After a special child and his parents were denied boarding at Ranchi Airport on May 7, India’s largest airline, IndiGo, was fined Rs 5 lakh by the aviation authority, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
According to the DGCA, unusual situations demand extraordinary answers, but airline employees failed to rise to the occasion and, as a result, violated the word and spirit of the Civil Aviation Requirements (Regulations).
“In light of this, the DGCA’s responsible authority has decided to impose a penalty of Rs. 5 lakhs on the airline under the applicable Aircraft Rules,” said Arun Kumar, the director general of the DGCA.
“An investigation was conducted by the DGCA into the case involving a special child with reduced mobility who, along with other family members, were denied boarding at Ranchi Airport on May 7 2022, and based on the findings of the investigation, a show cause notice was issued to Indigo Airline through its authorized representative,” the DGCA said.
This comes after Jyotiraditya Scindia, the minister of civil aviation, stated on May 9 that he was personally examining the situation and would see that proper action was done. “This type of behavior will not be tolerated.” This is something that no human being should have to go through! In a tweet, he added, “I’m investigating the problem on my own, after which necessary action will be done.”
To avoid similar situations in the future, the aviation regulator said it will revisit its own regulations and make the necessary changes in due time, including requiring written consultation with the airport doctor on the passenger’s health and with the aircraft commander for his/her opinion on allowing such a passenger on board.
“In order to put a more compassionate touch to such circumstances, airlines should reconsider their standard operating procedures (SOP) and training programs,” the DGCA said.
