IndiGo and Mumbai Airport Face Action Over Tarmac Dining Incident – BCAS Issues Show-Cause Notices
Mumbai, 16th January 2024: The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, has issued show-cause notices to IndiGo and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Mumbai Airport) in the aftermath of a widely circulated viral video showing passengers dining on the tarmac at Mumbai airport. The notices demand responses from both entities by January 16, and failure to comply may result in enforcement actions, including financial penalties.
The show-cause notices were prompted by a video that garnered attention on social media, revealing passengers sitting on the airport runway and consuming food after IndiGo’s Goa-Delhi flight faced a 12-hour delay and was diverted to Mumbai due to low visibility conditions in Delhi.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, reacting swiftly to the incident, convened a midnight meeting with ministry officials. The BCAS notices highlight that both IndiGo and Mumbai International Airport Limited, the operator of Mumbai Airport, failed to proactively ensure proper facilities for passengers in such situations.
IndiGo issued an apology for the inconvenience caused to passengers and acknowledged the incident involving flight 6E2195 on January 14, 2024. The airline expressed regret and assured customers that an investigation was underway to ascertain the facts surrounding the incident.
The BCAS, through these show-cause notices, seeks accountability and corrective measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. Both IndiGo and MIAL have been given a deadline to respond, and their cooperation in the inquiry is expected. The aviation regulator emphasizes the need for passenger well-being and compliance with safety and service standards.
