IndiGo and Mumbai Airport were fined Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 90 lakh for an event in which travelers ate food on the tarmac waiting for a delayed aircraft. The penalty levied on IndiGo represents the largest it has had to settle for recently.
DGCAÂ and BCASÂ levied fines against IndiGo and the Mumbai airport. The DGCA ordered both organizations to pay a fine of Rs 30 lakh, while BCAS levied a punishment of Rs 1.2 crore on IndiGo and Rs 60 lakh on Mumbai Airport.
The DGCA stated that having several people on an “active tarmac” for an extended period violated the rules and might have endangered both the passengers and the aircraft. The incident affected passengers on IndiGo aircraft 6E 2195 connecting Goa to Delhi.
They were already upset when their aircraft was delayed. When it was redirected to Mumbai owing to fog, the travelers surged out onto the runway, according to what Mumbai Airport had previously said.
Meanwhile, the DGCA fined Air India and SpiceJet for breaking regulations regarding the rostering of pilots certified to fly in limited visibility. The DGCA instructed both airlines to pay Rs 30 lakh.
What DGCA and BCAS said about Indigo and Mumbai Airport
According to the BCAS, IndiGo permitted passengers on aircraft 6E 2195 to descend on the runway and eat while “intermingling” with others and moving to and from the neighboring apron control facility.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation had already issued show-cause orders to IndiGo and Mumbai Airport concerning the January 15 incident. According to the notification, IndiGo permitted passengers from aircraft 6E 2195 to leave and subsequently onboard flight 6E 2091 despite checking them.
The BCAS additionally stated that IndiGo failed to disclose the event until the agency requested it.
