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A man from Gurugram who tumbled down IndiGo’s ramp at Delhi airport in August claims he is still struggling to walk.
The man twisted his ankle after falling on IndiGo’s ramp while deboarding plane at Delhi airport. (Image: X/@ratnenduray)
An IndiGo passenger who fell on a plane ramp at Delhi Airport in August claims he is still unable to walk. Ratnendu Ray was deboarding the flight early in the morning when the incident happened. The fall left him with a severely injured ankle, and he was rushed to a hospital in Gurugram for treatment.
Ray alleges that when he approached the airline for compensation, his request was denied and IndiGo representatives even made fun of his injury. Sharing his ordeal on X (formerly Twitter), he warned others to exercise caution while flying with the airline.
“My harrowing tale with IndiGo so that others can be careful,” wrote Ray on X, recounting the details of the incident and its aftermath.
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Ray explained that he slipped on a wet patch on the ramp while deboarding the flight. He noted that it was drizzling when the plane landed, and the ramp was poorly lit.
“On Aug 14 early morning I landed in Delhi’s T2 on an Indigo flight from Chennai. As is most common with them, no aerobridge was given, and instead, they asked everyone to deboard using their ramps,” he explained.
The IndiGo flyer added, “It was drizzling slightly as we landed though it had stopped when the doors opened. The ramp was dark, & as it usually is, had a rubber sheet on it. I was walking down it at a normal pace. Halfway down the ramp, my right foot suddenly slipped on a moist patch on the ramp.”
Sharing a picture of his broken ankle, Ray recounted the painful moment: “My ankle twisted and I fell on the ramp, and I realised almost immediately that my ankle had broken or dislocated. The foot was completely bent and the pain was absolutely excruciating. I was helped down by another passenger.”
3/n My ankle twisted and I fell on the ramp, and I realised almost immediately that my ankle had broken or dislocated. The foot was completely bent and the pain was absolutely excruciating. I was helped down by another passenger. This is my foot at the airport. pic.twitter.com/3ZG2hRjiGN— ratnendu ray (@ratnenduray) December 4, 2024
The Gurugram man said that IndiGo staff placed him in a wheelchair and escorted him to the terminal clinic. From there, he was rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital. “As expected, they [doctors] determined that it was a dislocation of my ankle joint along with a trimalleolar fracture. Basically the ankle was shattered,” he continued.
The man, who took off from Chennai, claimed that when he filed a complaint and sought compensation, the airline dismissed it and “added insult to his injury”. He alleged that IndiGo representatives downplayed the incident, stating that he was the only passenger who fell on the ramp that day.
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A response reportedly by IndiGo read, “We observed that you were the only passenger who experienced an incident that day, with many others deboarding safely before and after your departure. Our team acted swiftly upon learning of the situation, arranging medical assistance and escorted you to the hospital, where we stayed until your wife arrived.”
7/n In response Indigo customer service basically said (i am paraphrasing):i. ramp wasn’t wet that could cause me to slip – implying I’m making it up or must have imagined the little damp patchesii. I must be the idiot who can’t walk down ramps as no one else fell that day😐 pic.twitter.com/buEvFdmsEk— ratnendu ray (@ratnenduray) December 4, 2024
Ray shared that he has still not been able to walk. “Of course, they were unable to offer me compensation. Not only has the surgery and hospitalisation cost me a ton, but I have been unable to walk since mid-August, with potential full recovery at least a year away. To say nothing of the trauma for me and my family.”
“I now have a plate and bunch of screws in my right ankle, depend on a walker for limited mobility, deal with swollen ankles, occasional pain, two ugly surgery scars, & physiotherapy routine, hoping for some normalcy next year,” he lamented while sharing an X-ray and a picture of his foot post-surgery, adding, “I have missed office trips, meeting family etc.”
11/n I now have a plate and bunch of screws in my right ankle, depend on a walker for limited mobility, deal with swollen ankles, occasional pain, two ugly surgery scars, & physiotherapy routine, hoping for some normalcy next year. I have missed office trips, meeting family etc. pic.twitter.com/sGyXJBuN53— ratnendu ray (@ratnenduray) December 4, 2024
The post, since being shared a day ago on X, has elicited numerous reactions from social media users. “Very sorry to hear this. I travelled in the month of November. Chennai-Delhi and back. As you mentioned, no aerobridge at either airport. Only ramp, except during late night return to Chennai where an aerobridge was docked. Found the ramps wobbly too. Really strange,” expressed an individual.
Another added, “This needs accountability.”
“This is pathetic, you got lifetime trouble because of them & they have the audacity to deny medical charges also. Shame on IndiGo. It’s frustrating,” said a third.
A fourth commented, “This is horrible. Bad accident. And a really bad response from the airline. The least expected from them is an apology and a promise to look into the matter and of course, take care of the damage done. Speedy recovery to you.”
“It sounds so painful, especially the picture hits hard. Get well soon,” wrote a fifth.
