NEW DELHI, Jan 27: The civil aviation regulator the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakhs on the Go First Airline for violation of several air transport rules. The fine was imposed on Friday for one of its flights taking off for Delhi leaving behind 55 passengers at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru.
The DGCA sent notice to the airline for “multiple mistakes” soon after the incident and demanded an explanation. Go First’s response revealed that there was improper communication, coordination between terminal coordinator, commercial staff, and crew regarding boarding of passengers in the aircraft, the DGCA said, adding that the airline failed to ensure adequate arrangement for ground handling, preparation of load and trim sheet, flight dispatch, and passenger/cargo handling.
In a statement, the aviation regulator said, “The airline failed to ensure adequate arrangement for ground handling, preparation of load and trim sheet, flight dispatch and passenger/cargo handling.” “Perusal of (the) reply of Go First reveals that there was improper communication, coordination between terminal coordinator, commercial staff and crew regarding (the) boarding of passengers in the aircraft,” it said.
Go First had apologised for what it called an “inadvertent oversight”, and offered the affected passengers one free ticket to travel anywhere in India, within the next year. The crew involved in the incident was also de-rostered.
Flight G8 116 took off for Delhi from Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport around 6.30 am on January 9 this year, as 55 passengers, who had their boarding passes, and bags checked-in, were left behind in one of the four buses that took passengers to the aircraft.
The passengers were reportedly accommodated on a flight that left four hours later, at around 10 am. The DGCA had said “multiple mistakes such as lack of proper communication, coordination, reconciliation and confirmation” were at play and resulted in a highly avoidable situation.
(Manas Dasgupta)
