After Indigo denies boarding to child with special needs, Scindia initiates action
Guwahati, May 10: A day after IndiGo airlines denied boarding to a child with special needs in Ranchi, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Twitter that an investigation will be initiated and 'appropriate action' will be taken in this regard.
Scindia tweeted: "There is zero tolerance towards such behaviour. No human being should have to go through this! Investigating the matter by myself, post which appropriate action will be taken".
The incident came to light after other passengers posted about this incident on social media on Sunday. Manisha Gupta, the author of the post, wrote that IndiGo staff at Ranchi airport did not allow the child to board the aircraft, saying that "he was a risk to other passengers."
As mentioned by Gupta in her post the child was in distress before boarding the plane, while his parents were trying to calm him down fellow passengers offered help. "This caught the attention of the IndiGo airlines staff who walked upto the trio, and warned them that he would not let them board, if the child did not quieten down and become 'normal'," said the post.
Meanwhile, the airlines faced the heat from passengers for not allowing a child with disability to board a flight with his family. The airline, in a statement said the child posed a threat to other passengers' safety. It further stressed that it takes pride in being "inclusive", playing down suggestions of discriminatory behaviour.
Taking cognizance of the matter, Scindia said that no human being should have to go through this and he himself is investigating the incident.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is probing this incident and it will take appropriate action, It further sought a report from IndiGo on this matter.
Expressing regret over the incident, the CEO offered to buy an electric wheelchair for the child with special needs, adding that the airline staff took the best possible decision under difficult circumstances.