Indian aviation regulator bodies recently cracked down on the Mumbai International Airport and IndiGo Airline after a video of passengers eating food on the tarmac went viral on social media. The Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), responsible for overseeing the airport, and the Directorate General Of Civil Aviation (DGCA), responsible for monitoring the safety of air travellers imposed fines on the airline and the airport.
Also read: Viral Video: IndiGo Passengers Eat Food On Tarmac Near Aircraft
Why Was IndiGo, Mumbai Airport Fined?
Taking action against the airline and airport, the authorities have imposed a penalty of Rs 1.20 crore and Rs 90 lakh on the involved parties, respectively. A flight operated by IndiGo, with the number 6E-2195, was delayed for 12 hours due to fog-related delays in Amritsar and Delhi.
The flight was scheduled to travel from Goa to Delhi on Sunday, but was diverted to Mumbai due to the delay. Upon arrival in Mumbai, passengers were unhappy and refused to leave the apron area and go to the passenger building.
The BCAS has imposed a fine on the airline due to its failure to ensure that passengers underwent appropriate security screening at Mumbai airport, as well as allowing them to board from the tarmac itself. The airline also did not report the incident and did not respond effectively to the increasing frustration of the passengers.
Despite the repeated delays, the airline chose to operate the flight from Goa. Meanwhile, the DGCA’s penalty was imposed for the violation of “apron discipline”, as passengers spent a significant amount of time on the tarmac, which could jeopardize the safety of the passengers and the aircraft.
The DGCA has also penalized both Air India and SpiceJet with fines of Rs 30 lakh each for not having enough qualified pilots to fly in low-visibility conditions in December. This resulted in flight cancellations, delays, and diversions.