New Delhi: The Union Civil Aviation Ministry has levied substantial fines on IndiGo airline and Mumbai airport in response to a disturbing incident where passengers were found having meals on the airport tarmac.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) imposed a fine of Rs 1.20 crore on IndiGo, while both BCAS and Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) collectively penalized Mumbai airport operator MIAL (Mumbai International Airport Ltd) with Rs 90 lakh.
Following the incident, where visuals of stranded passengers sitting on the tarmac beside an aircraft and having meals at Mumbai airport circulated widely on social media, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) summoned explanations from IndiGo and Mumbai Airport.
In a statement, the aviation ministry expressed dissatisfaction, stating, “Both IndiGo and Mumbai airport were not proactive in anticipating the situation and making the appropriate facilitation arrangements for passengers at the airport.”