After Air India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on Go First airline for leaving behind 55 passengers at the Bengaluru airport on January 9. A day after the incident, the DGCA had issued a notice to the airline over the incident.
The passengers , who were to board flight G8 116 to Delhi, were left behind on the passenger coach. The airline apologised for the incident, which it said was "caused due to an inadvertent oversight".
“Perusal of reply of M/s Go First reveals that there was improper communication, coordination between terminal coordinator (TC), commercial staff and crew regarding boarding of passengers in the aircraft.
The airline failed to ensure adequate arrangement for ground handling, preparation of load and trim sheet, flight dispatch and passenger/cargo handling and therefore, enforcement action in the form of Financial Penalty of Rs 10, 00,000/- (Rupees Ten Lakh only) has been imposed for violation of CAR Section 3, Series C, Part II and of Air Transport Circular 02 of 2019,” the DGCA said in an order.
It further stated: “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 aviation regulator had said "multiple mistakes" could be easily avoided. The DGCA had sent notice to the airline for "multiple mistakes" soon after the incident and demanded an explanation. Go First's response revealed that there was improper communication, coordination between terminal coordinator, commercial staff, and crew regarding boarding of passengers in the aircraft, the DGCA said, adding that the airline failed to ensure adequate arrangement for ground handling, preparation of load and trim sheet, flight dispatch, and passenger/cargo handling.
Flight G8 116 took off for Delhi from Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport around 6.30 am on January 9 this year, as 55 passengers, who had their boarding passes, and bags checked-in, were left behind in one of the four buses that took passengers to the aircraft.
The passengers were reportedly accommodated on a flight that left four hours later, at around 10 am. A day after the incident, Go First, on January 10, apologised for the inconvenience caused to the passengers due to an inadvertent oversight in the reconciliation of the flight. It also said that affected passengers will be offered 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 (are) off the roaster till the inquiry is going on," it had said. On January 24, DGCA imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on Air India for not reporting two incidents of unruly passenger behaviour onboard a Paris-New Delhi flight on December 6, 2022.