IndiGo Faces Rs 1.5 Cr Fine, Mumbai Airport Penalized Rs 90 Lakh For Passengers Dining On Tarmac

NEW DELHI: IndiGo and Mumbai Airport have been fined Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 90 lakh, respectively, in response to an incident where passengers sat on the tarmac, consuming food while awaiting their delayed flight.

This penalty, the highest IndiGo has faced recently, was imposed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

The DGCA mandated a fine of Rs 30 lakh for both entities, while the BCAS levied a Rs 1.2 crore fine on IndiGo and Rs 60 lakh on Mumbai Airport.

The DGCA criticized the prolonged presence of passengers on an “active apron,” deeming it a violation of safety norms that could jeopardize both individuals and aircraft.

The episode involved frustrated passengers of IndiGo flight 6E 2195 from Goa to Delhi, delayed and subsequently diverted to Mumbai due to fog.

Simultaneously, the DGCA imposed fines on Air India and SpiceJet for violating regulations related to rostering CAT III trained pilots for low-visibility conditions, demanding Rs 30 lakh from each airline.

The BCAS underscored IndiGo’s lapse in allowing passengers to disembark on the tarmac, consume food, and mingle with others without reporting the incident promptly.

The notice revealed IndiGo’s awareness of the situation before departure from Goa and criticized the airline’s failure to address passenger frustration or request better facilitation from the airport operator.

The DGCA, pointing fingers at Mumbai Airport, cited a lack of discipline in the tarmac area and accused the airport of adopting a “business as usual” approach, reflecting a casual attitude towards passenger safety.

Both IndiGo and Mumbai Airport had previously received show-cause notices from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, highlighting lapses in passenger screening and safety measures.

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