Air India: Taking major action, DGCA has imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh on Air India. What is the whole matter due to which fine has been imposed on the airline – know.
Air India: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken a tough stance and taken major action against Air India in the case of death of an 80 year old man after not getting a wheelchair. DGCA has imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh on Air India. Earlier, DGCA had also issued a show cause notice to the airlines in this matter for not following the civil aviation rules. The company was asked to respond in the matter within seven days. Now taking action on this, DGCA has imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh on Air India.
What is the whole matter?
On February 12, 2024, an 80-year-old woman was going from New York, America to Mumbai with her husband. After reaching Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, the elderly passenger was not provided a wheelchair at the airport by the airlines. In such a situation, the old man had to walk more than 1 kilometer to the airport and due to this he fell and died. In this case, allegations were made against Air India that due to the negligence of the airline, this tragic incident happened and the elderly passenger had to lose his life.
Air India had given this clarification
Taking cognizance of the matter, DGCA had asked Air India to reply on the matter by 20 February. Responding to the issue, the airline said that the elderly passenger was asked to wait for the wheelchair along with his wife as there was a huge demand for wheelchairs at that time. According to Air India, the passenger did not wait for the wheelchair and started walking to the airport with his wife. The airline also said that after the accident, the medical team at the airport immediately gave first aid to the elderly person and sent him to the nearest hospital. However he died later. Air India had also contacted the family of the deceased and offered all possible help.
DGCA said this
On the matter, the DGCA official said that DGCA had questioned the airlines on the matter as to what action the company has taken against the employees responsible for this incident, information about which Air India has failed to provide. Along with this, the airlines have also failed to provide information about the steps to be taken to prevent such incidents in future. The officer also informed that to avoid such incidents in future, guidelines have been issued to all the airlines asking them to make arrangements for adequate number of wheelchairs.
