The situation escalated after a video showing passengers of this flight consuming refreshments on the tarmac at Mumbai Airport went viral on social. This prompted Union Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to convene a midnight meeting with ministry officials on January 15-16. Subsequently, in the early hours of January 16, 2024, BCAS issued show-cause notices to both IndiGo and Mumbai Airport.
The notices criticized IndiGo and MIAL for their lack of proactive measures in handling the situation and facilitating passenger comfort at the airport. The aircraft was assigned to a remote bay (C-33) instead of a contact stand, further complicating the situation by limiting passengers’ access to basic amenities like restrooms and refreshments at the terminal.
A senior ministry official described the incident as an “unfavourable and unacceptable experience for the tired and harassed passengers,” criticizing the flight operation for disregarding passenger convenience, security norms, and operational issues.
AIRPORT LOOKS LIKE TRAIN STATION
The airline is accused of allowing passengers to disembark onto the apron and later board Flight 6E 2091 on January 15 at Mumbai airport, without proper security screening, violating specific orders. Moreover, IndiGo’s failure to report the incident to BCAS is a breach of Rule 51 of the Aircraft (Security) Rules, 2023, according to the official.
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MIAL, on the other hand, was noticed for not reporting the incident involving Flight 6E 2195 and not informing the ASG of Mumbai about the situation. The ministry has demanded responses from both parties by January 16, warning that failure to reply within the stipulated time could lead to enforcement actions, including financial penalties.