Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed his response to the incident at Mumbai Airport, where passengers were seen consuming food on the tarmac, deeming it "unacceptable and shameful." In addressing the situation, Scindia emphasized that such incidents are not tolerated, leading to the prompt issuance of penalties.
During a media interaction in Hyderabad, Scindia conveyed his disapproval of the incident, highlighting its unacceptability and expressing clear condemnation. He disclosed that a meeting with ministry officials was swiftly convened within hours of learning about the incident, and a showcase notice was promptly issued.
Underlining the inconvenience caused to passengers and the compromise in security across various aspects, Scindia stressed the gravity of the situation. The Civil Aviation Ministry, according to him, took swift action by imposing penalties within three to four hours of the incident going viral. Additionally, fines were imposed on the airlines for lapses in service standards.
Scindia's comments were part of a broader discussion on flight delays and disruptions witnessed at several airports in the country in recent weeks. Despite acknowledging the challenges posed by weather conditions, Scindia commended the aviation organizations for their commendable efforts in ensuring the smooth movement of commercial jets. He emphasized that the aviation ecosystem is functioning effectively and noted that certain factors, such as weather conditions, are beyond the government's control.
It is noteworthy that in response to the Mumbai Airport incident, both IndiGo and the airport were penalized, with IndiGo facing a fine of Rs 1.5 crore and the airport being fined Rs 90 lakh for the incident where passengers were compelled to consume food while waiting for their delayed flight.
