IndiGo slammed for handling of specially-abled child incident, DGCA issues show cause notice

The DGCA inquiry found inappropriate handling of passengers by the IndiGo staff thereby resulting in certain non-conformances with the applicable regulations, as reported by ANI.

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On May 7, staff of Indigo airlines had barred a specially-abled child accompanied by parents from boarding a flight at the Ranchi airport as he was in "a state of panic", following which the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had ordered probe and asked the airline to submit a report. The DGCA inquiry found inappropriate handling of passengers by the IndiGo staff thereby resulting in certain non-conformances with the applicable regulations.

The statement released by DGCA reads that a fact finding enquiry was ordered by DGCA into the unfortunate event of denying boarding to a special child along with the family at Ranchi Airport by Indigo Airline on May 7, 2022. The proceedings of the committee were partly held in the open and partly in camera as per the request of the affected family, it reads.

"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," it mentioned.

In view of this, it has been decided to issue a show cause notice to the concerned airline through its authorized representative to explain as to why suitable enforcement action should not be taken against them for the non-conformances, it reads. It further mentioned that 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 26th of May 2022.After hearing their submissions, appropriate action as per law would be taken, it read.

(With inputs from ANI)