Chandigarh: Family of 3 offloaded from Dubai flight for not heeding Covid protocols

Chandigarh airport CEO said the family, comprising a couple and their daughter, was offloaded by the Indigo crew over the passengers’ ‘unruly behaviour’

High drama was witnessed at the Chandigarh International Airport on Friday after three members of a family allegedly refused to follow Covid protocols and created ruckus inside the IndiGo Airlines Dubai-bound flight (6E-55), causing nearly an hour’s delay.

The Dubai flight that was scheduled to leave at 5.40 pm departed from Chandigarh after a 50-minute delay. (HT Photo)

The flight finally took off after 50 minutes after the family was offloaded.

Chandigarh International Airport chief executive officer Rakesh Ranjan Sahay said the family, comprising a couple and their daughter, was offloaded by the Indigo crew over the passengers’ “unruly behaviour”.

A crew member, requesting anonymity, said, “Initially, the passengers complained about the widow shutters, and then refused to adhere to the Covid protocol. The on-board crew tried to pacify the passengers, but when they did not comply, the pilot of the flight intervened and requested the family to obey the in-flight protocol. However, when the family did not respond in a positive manner, the crew off-loaded the family and handed them over to the CISF (Central Industrial Security Force), the airport security staff. They were asked to leave the airport premises.”

The Dubai-bound flight was scheduled to depart at 5.40 pm but left at 6.30 pm, said the airport officials.