NEW DELHI, May 28: In a first for any airline in the country, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Saturday imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on IndiGo for denying boarding its flight a specially-abled child at the Ranchi airport on the ground that he was a safety risk.
The DGCA has found that IndiGo ground staff’s handling of the special needs child was “deficient” and lacking in sensitivity and decided to penalise the airlines not convinced of its explanations.
IndiGo admitted that it had on May 9 denied permission to the boy to board the Ranchi-Hyderabad flight as he was “visibly in panic.” As the boy was prohibited from boarding, his parents – who were accompanying him – also decided not to enter the plane. The incident was brought to light in a Facebook post by a passenger who watched the episode at the airport while waiting to board another flight.
Soon after the video of the incident went viral on social media, the DGCA had formed a three-member team and initiated a probe. It also sought a report from the airline company.
In a statement released later, IndiGo had said the child “could not board the flight…as he was in a state of panic.” As the boy was prohibited from boarding, his parents – who were accompanying him – also decided not to enter the plane.
However, the DGCA did not find the response of the airline company to be satisfactory, and decided to penalise it.
“It has been observed that the handling of the special child by the IndiGo ground staff was deficient and ended up exacerbating the situation,” said a statement by the DGCA. “A more compassionate handling would have smoothened nerves, calmed the child and obviated the need for the extreme step resulting in denied boarding to the passengers,” it mentioned. “In view of this, the competent authority in the DGCA has decided to impose a penalty of Rs 5 lakhs on the airline under the provisions of the relevant Aircraft Rules,” it added.
These findings are based on a fact-finding exercise carried out by a three-member committee constituted by the DGCA which visited the Ranchi airport, met the family members of the special needs child, an eyewitness and met IndiGo officials too.
This was the first time the regulator has imposed a fine on an airline after the Aircraft Amendment Act, 2020, empowered it to levy fines without approaching a civil court. The DGCA has also said that it would also make amendments to the Civil Aviation Requirement on “Carriage by Air- Persons with Disability or with reduced mobility” to ensure written consultation with the airport doctor on the state of the passenger’s health as well as the opinion of the Pilot-in-Command on allowing such a passenger on board before he or she is denied boarding. The regulator also wants airlines to revisit their standard operating procedures and training processes for dealing with people with disabilities.
(Manas Dasgupta)