DGCA panel finds ‘inappropriate’ handling by IndiGo staff in Ranchi denied boarding case

A panel of the aviation regulator DGCA has found “inappropriate handling” of passenger by IndiGo staff in a recent case where a disabled child was denied boarding a flight at Ranchi airport recently. 

On May 7, an IndiGo manager did not allow a specially abled child to board a flight at Ranchi Airport. According to an eyewitness account shared on Twitter, the airlines allegedly announced that the child was a flight risk. He even compared the child’s condition, teenage assertiveness, to that of drunken passengers. The flight departed for Hyderabad, leaving behind the child and their parents.

DGCA had ordered the fact-finding probe a day after an eyewitness account of the incident went viral on Twitter

The DGCA has constituted a three-member team in connection with the incident. The aviation regulator added that based on the outcomes of the said inquiry, further action shall entail.

“The committee has submitted its report. The proceedings of the committee were partly held in the open and partly in camera as per the request of the affected family. 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 DCGA said. 

It added that it has been decided to issue a “show-cause notice” to the concerned airline through its authorised representative to explain as to “why suitable enforcement action should not be taken against them for the non-conformances”. 

The regulator also said the airlines has been provided an opportunity for personal hearing as well as for making written submissions by May 26. After hearing their submissions, appropriate action as per law would be taken.