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DGCA to amend rules for specially-abled passengers, issues draft rules for airlines
The DGCA said it would revisit its own regulations, making it mandatory for airlines to take the airport doctor`s opinion on a passenger`s health before deciding to deny boarding, reports PTI.
Highlights
- IndiGo airline was fined Rs 5 lakh for denying a specially-abled child boarding
- The authority will revisit its regulations
- The airlines can only deny boarding after doctor's recommendation
If an airline believes a specially abled passenger's health is likely to deteriorate during a flight, it must contact a doctor at the airport and make an "appropriate call" on whether the flyer should be refused to board or not, based on the DGCA's proposed guidelines. The suggestion to appoint new management comes only six days after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced that IndiGo airline had been fined Rs 5 lakh for denying a specially-abled child boarding at Ranchi airport on May 7.
IndiGo had on May 9 said the boy was denied permission to board the Ranchi-Hyderabad flight as he was visibly in panic. After the boy was prohibited from boarding, his parents also decided not to enter the plane.
On May 28 said that to avoid such situations in the future, it would revisit its own regulations, making it mandatory for airlines to take the airport doctor's written opinion on a passenger's health before deciding to deny boarding.
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The draft rules issued by the DGCA on Friday stated: "Airline shall not refuse carriage of any person on the basis of disability."
"However, in case an airline perceives that the health of such a passenger may deteriorate in-flight, the said passenger will have to be examined by a doctor who shall categorically state the medical condition and whether the passenger is fit to fly or not. After obtaining the medical opinion, the airline shall take the appropriate call," it mentioned.
The regulator has asked the public to send in their comments about the draft rules by July 2, after which it will issue the final rules. IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta had, on May 9, expressed regret over the incident and offered to buy an electric wheelchair for the specially-abled child.
Dutta had said the airline staff took the best possible decision under difficult circumstances. Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had on May 9 said on Twitter that no human being should have to go through this, and he himself was investigating the Ranchi incident.
With inputs from PTI