New Delhi: A fact finding committee constituted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) To probe IndiGo for denial of boarding Earlier this month the airline was found guilty of not following the rules for a disabled child.
As a result, the civil aviation regulator has issued a show cause notice to the airline, which now has to explain to the regulator why it did not take appropriate action against those who did not comply with the rules.
“The findings of the committee prima facie indicate improper handling of passengers by IndiGo’s employees, resulting in certain non-compliances,” the regulator said in a statement on Monday.
“To meet the end of justice, the airline has been provided with an opportunity to make personal hearings as well as written submissions in the next ten days from today i.e. up to 26th May 2022. After hearing their arguments, appropriate action will be taken accordingly. The law will be taken.”
On May 7, IndiGo, operated by India’s largest airline, InterGlobe Aviation Ltd, refused to board a Hyderabad-bound flight with a disabled child at Ranchi airport.
The issue was probed by the civil aviation regulator after the incident created an uproar on social media. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had ordered an inquiry into the incident.
“There is zero tolerance towards such behaviour. No human should go through this! On May 9, Scindia said on social media platform Twitter that I myself am investigating the matter, after which appropriate action will be taken.
However, the airline has so far refused to admit its mistakes.
IndiGo’s chief executive Datta had said after the incident that his airline had taken the best possible decision in difficult circumstances.
IndiGo has said that the airline followed the DGCA guidelines when they refused to board the differently-abled child.
On Monday, after DGCA pulled up IndiGo for not complying with the rules, an airline spokesperson said, “We have received communication from DGCA on the matter and will respond in due course.”