NEW DELHI: A three-member Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGA) panel, probing IndiGo’s denial to board a ‘divyang’ child at Ranchi Airport on May 7, has found the airline at fault.
As a result, the panel will issue a show cause notice to the airline. After hearing IndiGo’s defence, it will come out with the order by the month end.
The regulator had ordered a fact finding inquiry into the “unfortunate event” where IndiGo had denied boarding to a special child along with the family at Ranchi airport on May 7, 2022.
The boy and his parents were supposed to fly to Hyderabad that day.
The committee has now submitted its report and found the airline to be at fault.
“The findings of the committee prima facie indicate inappropriate handling of passengers by IndiGo staff thereby resulting in certain non-conformances with the applicable regulations. In view of this, it has been decided to issue a show cause notice to the concerned airline… to explain as to why suitable enforcement action should not be taken against them for the non-conformances,” the DGCA said in a statement.
“To meet the ends of justice, the airline has been provided an opportunity for personal hearing as well as for making written submissions in next ten days, till May 26, 2022. After hearing their submissions, appropriate action as per law would be taken,” the statement added.
The proceedings of the committee were partly held in the open and partly in camera as per the request of the affected family, DGCA said.
Standing by the action of his staffers, IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta had last week issued a statement saying: “We offer our sincere regrets to the affected family for the unfortunate experience. As a small token of appreciation ndiGo would like to offer electric wheelchair for child barred from boarding the flight.”
IndiGo’s statement had not gone down well with the public and the authorities.
The public furore had led to Union aviation minister tweeting last week: “There is zero tolerance towards such behaviour. No human being should have to go through this! Investigating the matter by myself, post which appropriate action will be taken.”