IndiGo Passenger Still Unable to Walk After Fall on Ramp at Delhi Airport Three Months Ago

A passenger of IndiGo who fell on a plane ramp at Delhi Airport in August claims he is still unable to walk. Ratnendu Ray was disembarking from the flight early in the morning when the incident took place. The fall caused a severe ankle injury, and he was rushed to a hospital in Gurugram for treatment.

Ray alleges that when he requested compensation from the airline, his claim was denied, and IndiGo staff even ridiculed his injury. He shared his ordeal on X (formerly Twitter), warning others to be cautious when traveling with the airline. “My painful experience with IndiGo so that others can be careful,” Ray posted on X, recounting the details of the incident and its aftermath.

My harrowing tale with @IndiGo6E , so that others can be careful. 1/n

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.

— ratnendu ray (@ratnenduray) December 4, 2024

Ray described that he lost his footing on a wet spot on the ramp while getting off the flight. He mentioned that it was drizzling when the plane arrived, and the ramp was not well lit. “On August 14 early morning, I landed at Delhi’s T2 on an IndiGo flight from Chennai. As is common with them, no aerobridge was provided, and instead, they asked everyone to deboard using their ramps,” he explained.

The IndiGo passenger continued, “It was lightly drizzling when we landed, although it had stopped by the time the doors opened. The ramp was dark, and as usual, it had a rubber sheet on it. I was walking down at a normal pace when, halfway down the ramp, my right foot suddenly slipped on a damp patch.”

Ray shared a picture of his broken ankle and recounted the painful moment: “My ankle twisted and I fell on the ramp, and I realized 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.”

The Gurugram man mentioned 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 flew from Chennai, stated that when he complained and requested

compensation, the airline rejected it, making things worse for him. He claimed that IndiGo staff minimized the incident, saying he was the only passenger who slipped on the ramp that day.

Good Lord! I am so sorry for what you went through!

I can imagine the excruciating pain since I had two ankle fractures past one year – this dislocation looks so painful. 😥 💔@IndiGo6E must ensure the ramps are well lit, not wet & slippery. https://t.co/NsqUnkyuxs

— Ruchi Angrish (She/Her/Hers) (@RuchiAngrish) December 5, 2024

IndiGo reportedly responded, saying, “You were the only passenger who had an incident that day, while many others deboarded safely before and after you. Our team acted quickly when we learned about the situation, providing medical assistance and escorting you to the hospital, where we stayed until your wife arrived.”

Ray mentioned that he still can’t walk. “They haven’t offered me any compensation. The surgery and hospital bills have been extremely high, and I haven’t been able to walk since mid-August, with a full recovery possibly taking a year. This has been traumatic for me and my family.” 

He shared, “I now have a plate and several screws in my right ankle, rely on a walker for limited movement, deal with swollen ankles, occasional pain, two noticeable surgery scars, and I’m going through physiotherapy, hoping to regain some normalcy next year.” He added that he has missed work trips and family gatherings.

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 patches
ii. 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

The post, which was shared a day ago on X, has sparked a lot of reactions from users on social media. One person commented, “I’m really sorry to hear this. I traveled in November from Chennai to Delhi and back. Just like you mentioned, there was no aerobridge at either airport, only a ramp, except for the late-night return to Chennai when an aerobridge was available. I found the ramps to be wobbly too. It’s really strange.” 

Another added, “This needs accountability”, “It sounds so painful, especially the picture hits hard. Get well soon,” wrote a user.