Aviation authorities have fined IndiGo (Rs 1.2 crore) and Mumbai International Airport Ltd (Rs 90 lakh) a total of Rs 2.1 crore for the incidents that occurred on January 14–15, during which stranded passengers from the airline’s diverted flights were seen eating on the airport’s apron.
A senior aviation ministry official stated that Air India and SpiceJet were fined Rs 30 lakh each for not employing CAT III-trained pilots on flights to Delhi during foggy circumstances last month. The DGCA and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) set fines of Rs 3 crore on the three airlines and Mumbai airport operator MIAL.
Due to poor visibility in Delhi on January 14, IndiGo directed Goa-Delhi flight 6E-2195 to Mumbai. On January 16, IndiGo and MIAL got show-cause notice after a video showing passengers dining on the tarmac in Mumbai went viral.
After being found responsible for the mistake, MIAL was fined Rs 90 lakh (Rs 30 lakh by the DGCA and Rs 60 lakh by the BCAS). According to the BCAS decision, IndiGo allowed passengers to go out and board without undergoing security screening protocols. MIAL failed to report the incident until BCAS sought a report.
BCAS fined IndiGo Rs 1.20 crore for providing passengers with refreshments on the apron and transferring passengers from ramp to ramp without undergoing security checks. IndiGo did not report this to BCAS until a report was requested. The DGCA fined SpiceJet and Air India Rs 30 lakh each for failing to comply with CAT III pilot rostering regulations.
IndiGo and Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) were fined Rs 2.1 crore for allowing passengers to eat food on the tarmac at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Air India and SpiceJet were both fined Rs 30 lakh each for failing to deploy CAT III-trained pilots on flights to foggy Delhi.