NO AIRLINE CAN REFUSE TO FLY SPECIAL NEED PERSONS : DGCA

(The Quiver) : On Friday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has made it rule that no airline can refuse to board a special needs child. The DGCA has amended its rules to improve the accessibility of boarding and flying for differently abled people after a huge controversy evolved when an airline refused to board a special needs child.

“Airline shall not refuse carriage of any person on the basis of disability and/or reduced mobility. However, in case, an airline perceives that the health of such a passenger may deteriorate in-flight, the said passenger will have to be examined by a Doctor in person – who shall in his/her opinion, categorically state the medical condition and whether the passenger is fit to fly or not,” the DGCA said.

In May this year, IndiGo flight had barred a differently abled child from boarding at Ranchi airport. The incident came to public notice after an eye-witness posted about the inhospitality in social media platform. The post went viral on social media wi8thin a few time.

The DGCA imposed a fine amount of Rs 5 lakh on IndiGo for failing to adequately handle the case at Ranchi airport. The committee which conducted the probe stated in its report that Indigo staff’s handling of the passengers was inappropriate.

In a statement, the DGCA had said, “It has been observed that the handling of the special child by the Indigo ground staff was deficient and ended up exacerbating the situation. A more compassionate handling would have smoothened the nerves, calmed the child and would have obviated the need for the extreme step resulting in denied boarding to the passengers.”
“Special situations deserve extraordinary responses but the Airline staff failed to rise up to the occasion and in the process committed lapses in adherence to the letter and spirit of the Civil Aviation Requirements (Regulations).”