Are Indians Really Gaming Airport Wheelchairs?

Scroll through social media and you’ll find ample videos of what appears to be a uniquely Indian scam: rows of able-bodied passengers sitting in wheelchairs, skipping lines, and boarding flights before anyone else. Sometimes the proof comes after landing, when the passenger “magically” stands up and walks away.

Most recently, on August 20, a photo on X with the caption “flight to india (this is insane)” — with dozens of people in wheelchairs — garnered over 21 million views. The reactions were brutal: observers accused Indians of being “lazy,” “scammers,” and “unfit” — as well as taking wheelchairs from those in need. 

But how much of the “wheelchair scam” is actually a scam? The Juggernaut spoke to disability rights activists, doctors, fitness influencers, and people who use wheelchairs to find out.