Challenged artist: Denied boarding by airline over battery-run wheelchair

Kochi: An award-winning physically challenged artist has claimed she was prohibited from boarding an Alliance Air flight from Bengaluru to Kochi recently as she was not willing to leave behind her battery-operated wheelchair.

The only option the airline provided to Sarita Dwivedi was -- leave behind her wheelchair or book a flight on another airline, she claimed while talking to PTI on Monday.

Alliance Air did not even refund the amount of around Rs 8,000 she had spent on the tickets for herself and her friend who had come from Kochi to Bengaluru to take her here. She also accused a staff member of hostile behaviour towards her.

A statement from the airline on the issue was awaited. Dwivedi said she had to subsequently shell out around Rs 14,000 for travelling on another private carrier. The airline also carried her wheelchair in the plane's cargo without any hitch, she said.

What transpired at the Alliance Air counter at Kempegowda International Airport on Saturday was a very bad experience, she said.