In a shocking lapse in safety protocols, the Civil Aviation Ministry has slapped hefty fines on both IndiGo and the Mumbai Airport following a viral video showing passengers eating on the tarmac.
The Penalty Breakdown:
IndiGo: ₹1.20 crore by Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) for security violations.
Mumbai Airport: ₹90 lakh, split between DGCA (₹30 lakh) and BCAS (₹60 lakh) for failing to prevent the incident.
This incident occurred on Sunday when IndiGo flight 6E2195, diverted due to fog, landed at Mumbai Airport. Instead of being guided to a proper contact stand with access to basic amenities, the aircraft was directed to a remote bay. Frustrated by the delay and lack of facilities, passengers disembarked onto the tarmac and resorted to eating on the ground.
Cause of the Chaos:
Flight Diversion: Fog forced the flight to divert to Mumbai, disrupting their original itinerary.
Remote Bay Assignment: Instead of a proper stand, the aircraft was assigned a remote bay lacking essential passenger facilities.
Delay and Frustration: The combination of diversion and remote bay led to prolonged wait times and lack of access to basic amenities, pushing passengers to take extreme measures.
Response and Consequences:
Show Cause Notices: The Ministry issued show cause notices to both IndiGo and the Mumbai Airport for failing to handle the situation and address security concerns.
Internal Inquiry: IndiGo initiated an internal investigation but has not yet commented on the hefty fine.
Fines Imposed: Both IndiGo and the Mumbai Airport were severely penalized for their roles in the incident.