Amid the row over a viral video showing passengers of an IndiGo flight sitting and eating on the Mumbai airport tarmac, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said a show-cause notice had been issued to the airlines and the airport.
"We have had a few days of zero visibility. In those days, it becomes difficult if not impossible for landings and take-offs...That caused a chain of events that led to this aircraft coming into the airport and then going into a parking stand for reasons that I can't even imagine,” the minister was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
The incident reportedly took place on Sunday when several passengers rushed out as soon as their diverted Goa-Delhi flight landed in Mumbai after a long delay. Some passengers were seen sitting on the tarmac and having food.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has slapped a penalty of Rs 1.20 crore on the IndiGo flight and Rs 60 lakh on the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIBL) over the incident.
Scindia said as soon as he received information about the incident, a meeting was held with all officials within the ministry and a show-cause notice was immediately issued. Safety and security of our citizens are primary for us under civil aviation, he said.
"The fact that the passengers were inconvenienced, the fact that they had to eat on the tarmac, and the fact that security had been compromised across all points was unacceptable. Within 3-4 hours, notices were issued and within 24 hours of the notices being issued, the necessary penalties have been levied. This or any incident like this is unacceptable for us and therefore the penalties have been issued," Scindia said.
The BCAS has issued show cause notices to IndiGo and MIAL saying that they were not proactive in anticipating the situation and making the appropriate facilitation arrangements for passengers at the airport.
Besides, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh on MIAL over the incident.
