Aviation Regulators slaps fine of Rs 1.2 crore on IndiGo and Rs 30 lakh fine on SpiceJet & Air India

SpiceJet and Air India have been fined Rs 30 lakh each by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), while IndiGo Airlines has been fined Rs 1.2 crore by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

IndiGo has been fined a total of Rs 1.2 crore for five different offenses, one of which was the incident where passengers on their delayed flight were observed eating on the tarmac.

Notably, after a viral video showed stranded passengers casually eating on the tarmac after their Delhi-bound flight was delayed by 12 hours, the Civil Aviation Ministry issued show-cause notices to IndiGo and the Mumbai airport, demanding answers. Due to heavy fog at Delhi airport, there were significant flight disruptions that resulted in this delay.

BCAS fined IndiGo Rs 50 lakhs on two separate occasions for violating security, Rs 5 lakhs on each occasion for failing to report the incident, and Rs 10 lakh on one occasion for handling the matter improperly.

A video emerged of IndiGo passengers scurrying out of the Mumbai airport, sitting on the tarmac and eating food while their flight was diverted, during a time when airlines are rushing to expedite flights delayed by fog, causing a mad rush at airports.

Prior to now, IndiGo claimed to have started an internal investigation into the incident. After the substantial fine was assessed, the airline did not respond. IndiGo added that it will be reacting to the notice in accordance with protocol and that it has already started an internal investigation to address the problem.

The Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) has also been fined Rs 60 lakh by the BCAS for the tarmac incident, while the airport has also been fined Rs 30 lakh by the DGCA.

MIAL was fined by the BCAS on four counts: failing to notify it of the incident, making a “false statement” regarding the deployment of security officers, failing to set up a backup plan for surveillance on the apron, and failing to put security control measures in place at the apron.

Significantly, IndiGo has been fined by the BCAS on five counts: failing to notify the DGCA of the incident; failing to “implement office order dated 21.9.2021 ensure screening of passengers and their baggage before boarding a flight”; failing to keep the aircraft release certificate for the concerned flight accurately updated; failing to deploy security personnel in accordance with scale; and failing to react to the situation appropriately and effectively.

Due to their pilots’ inadequate training to perform CAT III operations, SpiceJet and Air India are liable for a fine.