DGCA issues notice to Go First for leaving behind 55 flyers at Bengaluru airport

The regulator stated that according to regulations, the concerned airline is responsible to ensure adequate arrangement for ground handling, preparation of load and trim sheet, among others

Aviation regular directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA), on Tuesday, issued a show cause notice to low-cost airline Go First for leaving behind 55 passengers that were to board G8 116 to Delhi, on the passenger coach at Bengaluru airport on Monday.

The regular said prima facie it emerged that the DGCA failed to comply with rules. (Twitter | Go First)

The regulator had asked the incident report, which was submitted by the airline on Tuesday.

The regular said prima facie it emerged that the DGCA failed to comply with rules.

“Go First failed to comply with the provision specified at para 9 and 13 of CAR Section 3, Series C, Part II issued by DGCA resulted in violation of Para (1A) of Rule 134 read with Schedule XI of the Aircraft Rules, 1937. M/s Go First has failed to comply with the provision specified in para 5.2 of ATC 02 of 2019,” DGCA’s statement read.

“It is pertinent to mention that DGCA has issued Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section -3, Series-C, Part-II on “Minimum Requirements for Grant of Air Operator Certificate to Operate Scheduled Air Transport Services (Passenger).” and Air Transport Circular 02 of 2019 on ‘Facilities/Courtesies to esteemed travelling public at airports’,” the statement added.

The regulator stated that according to regulations, the concerned airline is responsible to ensure adequate arrangement for ground handling, preparation of load and trim sheet, flight dispatch and passenger/cargo handling and also ensure that all the ground handling staff engaged in passenger handling undergo periodic soft skill training for sensitization, courtesy, behaviour and procedures for assisting the passengers.

However, the DGCA noted that in the instant case, “multiple mistakes” such as lack of proper communication, coordination, reconciliation, and confirmation resulted in a “highly avoidable situation”.

The regulator therefore issued show cause notice to the accountable manager/ chief operations officer of Go First as to why enforcement action should not be taken against them for “dereliction of their regulatory obligations”.

The airline, however, has been given two weeks’ time to submit their reply to DGCA and based on that further action will be taken.

Reacting on the development, Go First released a statement on the same.

“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to the passengers due to an inadvertent oversight in the reconciliation of flight G8 116, from Bengaluru to Delhi. Passengers were accommodated on alternate airlines to Delhi and onward to other destinations. We deeply appreciate and value your patience for bearing with us. In line with our philosophy of customer centricity, the airline has decided to offer all affected passengers one free ticket for travel on any domestic sector in the next 12 months. The airline has initiated an inquiry into the incident and the matter is being investigated. All concerned staff off the roster till the inquiry is going on”, the statement read.