In a recent development, the civil aviation ministry has levied substantial fines on IndiGo and Mumbai Airport following a viral incident where passengers were seen eating on the tarmac at Mumbai airport. IndiGo faces a hefty penalty of ₹1.20 crore, while Mumbai Airport is fined ₹90 lakh. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) imposed penalties of ₹30 lakh and ₹60 lakh, respectively, on Mumbai Airport.
The incident involved IndiGo flight 6E2195, which landed at Mumbai airport on Sunday due to diversion. Passengers were allowed to disembark onto the tarmac and then proceed to their connecting flight 6E2091. However, the aircraft was assigned a remote bay C-33 instead of a contact stand, leading to passenger inconvenience and depriving them of basic facilities like restrooms and refreshments at the terminal.
In response to the incident, the civil aviation ministry issued show cause notices to both IndiGo and Mumbai Airport, citing a lack of proactive measures to address the situation, which posed a security threat. IndiGo, in a statement, mentioned that it had initiated an internal inquiry into the matter and would respond to the notice as per protocol.
The fines reflect the seriousness with which authorities are addressing the lapse in security and passenger comfort. Additionally, Air India and SpiceJet also faced penalties for violations in this regard.
This incident comes amidst airlines dealing with flight delays due to fog, causing a rush at airports. The video of passengers sitting on the tarmac and having food during the delay raised concerns about the airlines' handling of such situations.
The penalties imposed aim to underscore the importance of ensuring passenger safety, security, and comfort, urging airlines and airports to take proactive measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.