The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) issued show cause letters to IndiGo airline and Mumbai Airport on Tuesday after a video showing customers sitting and consuming food on the tarmac during aircraft delays became a hit on social media.
According to the Ministry, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia met with ministry officials following the event and issued warnings to the airline and Mumbai International Airport Limited.
According to the complaints, “both Indigo and MIAL were not proactive in anticipating the situation and making the appropriate facilitation arrangements for passengers at the airport”.
The notices were issued after many travellers were observed sprinting out of an IndiGo aircraft at the Mumbai airport, sitting on the runway, and even eating food after their diverted Goa-Delhi flight arrived following a lengthy delay on January 14.
The ministry also pointed out that “the aircraft was allotted a remote bay C-33 (instead of a Contact Stand – an aircraft parking stand that is suitable for walking passengers to and from an aircraft from an allocated boarding gate), which further added to passenger woes and deprived them the opportunity to avail basic facilities like restrooms and refreshments at the terminal”.
“As a result, the tired and harassed passengers had an unpleasant, unacceptable experience.” The flying operation was planned and carried out without regard for passenger comfort, established security standards, or operational concerns,” it noted.
The MoCA has requested IndiGo and the airport authorities to respond to the notifications by today, January 16.
“If replies are not received in the given time then enforcement action including financial penalty will be initiated,” the statement read.
