New Delhi: Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said Monday it has issued a showcause notice to IndiGo. The letter was issued after a fact-finding committee found the airline staff prima facie violated regulations in denying boarding to a specially-abled child at the Ranchi airport May 7. IndiGo had May 9 said the boy was denied boarding as he was ‘visibly in panic’.
As the boy was prohibited from boarding the IndiGo Ranchi-Hyderabad flight, his parents – who were accompanying him – also decided not to enter the plane.
The DGCA had constituted a fact-finding committee to probe the matter. “The committee has submitted its report,” the DGCA said in a statement on Monday.
The proceedings of the committee were partly held in the open and partly in-camera as per the request of the affected family, it said.
“The findings of the committee prima facie indicate inappropriate handling of passengers by the Indigo staff thereby resulting in certain non-conformances with the applicable regulations,” the report said.
“In view of this, it has been decided to issue a showcause notice to the airline through its authorised representative. It has to explain as to why suitable enforcement action should not be taken against IndiGo for the non-conformances,” the DGCA further said.
“To meet the ends of justice, the airline has been provided an opportunity for personal hearing as well as for making written submissions in next ten days from today i e till May 26, 2022. After hearing their submissions, appropriate action as per law would be taken,” it added.