Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday (January 18) strongly condemned the recent incident at Mumbai airport, where passengers of an IndiGo flight were left seated on the tarmac and served food, deeming it “unacceptable and shameful.”
During the civil aviation conclave and exhibition Wings India 2024, he asserted the government’s commitment to the primary concern of ensuring the safety and security of citizens.
Immediate action taken
In response to the incident, Minister Scindia revealed that immediate action was taken within hours of being informed. A meeting with ministry officials took place beyond midnight, and a show cause notice was promptly issued.
He emphasised that the inconvenience faced by passengers, including having to dine on the tarmac, was unacceptable and compromised security at various points.
The minister highlighted that notices were issued within three to four hours, and penalties were levied within 24 hours, expressing unequivocally that such incidents are intolerable. Two separate Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) were issued to address the matter comprehensively.
Explaining the chain of events leading to the incident, Scindia mentioned the challenges posed by zero visibility during a few days, making landings and take-offs difficult, even with CAT III runways designed for such conditions. He pointed out that the aircraft, instead of going to a parking stand, was inexplicably directed to a parking bay.
Penalties worth Rs 2.70 crore imposed
Regulatory bodies, including BCAS and DGCA, imposed penalties totaling Rs 2.70 crore on IndiGo, Mumbai airport operator MIAL, Air India, and SpiceJet for various violations. The fines were issued in response to infractions related to the incident of IndiGo passengers dining on the tarmac.
Flight cancellation SOP issued
Addressing concerns about passenger rights, Minister Scindia mentioned that airlines have been instructed in the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to treat a flight as cancelled if it is expected to be delayed beyond three hours.
The minister assured that monitoring of SOPs, including informing passengers about cancellations and delays, is conducted twice-thrice daily by the DGCA, with strict action against any violations.
Scindia hailed Akasa Air’s landmark achievement
Regarding Akasa Air’s historic order for 150 Boeing 737 Max planes, Scindia hailed it as a landmark achievement, being the first order of its kind signed in India for the procurement of triple-digit aircraft.
He highlighted Akasa’s commitment with 150 additional aircraft in addition to the existing fleet, emphasizing its significance in the aviation industry.
