DGCA Fined Go First Rs 10 Lakh For Leaving Behind 55 Passengers At Bengaluru Airport

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Government of India, fined Go First ten lakh rupees on Friday following an incident in which the airline left 55 passengers behind in a passenger coach at Bangalore airport on January 9.

Following the incident, the airline rerouted 53 of the total 55 passengers to another flight destined for different locations, while the remaining two passengers were refunded.

According to sources cited by ANI, the passengers’ luggage was returned.

“An incident occurred on 09.01.2023 wherein Go First flight G8-116 on Bangalore-Delhi sector, leaving behind 55 pax in pax coach at Bangalore airport. DGCA issued Show Cause Notice to Accountable Manager of Go First as to why enforcement action shouldn’t be taken against them,” said ANI in a Tweet.

An incident occurred on 09.01.2023 wherein Go First flight G8-116 on Bangalore-Delhi sector, leaving behind 55 pax in pax coach at Bangalore airport. DGCA issued Show Cause notice to Accountable Manager of Go First as to why enforcement action shouldn’t be taken against them:DGCA pic.twitter.com/2PHkAzdvRq

— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2023

Following the incident, the aviation regulator body issued a show cause notice to Go First’s Accountable Manager, requesting that the carrier explain why enforcement action should not be taken against them for failing to meet their regulatory obligations.

On Wednesday, Go First filed a response to the show cause notice, which was reviewed by the aviation regulator, DGCA.

“Perusal of (the) reply of Go First reveals that there was improper communication, coordination between terminal coordinator, commercial staff and crew regarding (the) boarding of passengers in the aircraft.”

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Previously, a traveller had also voiced her dissatisfaction in a tweet, stating;

“Most horrifying experience with Go First airlines. I boarded the bus for the aircraft at 5:30 AM for a flight that was at 6:30 AM. I was still in a bus stuffed with over 50 passengers, the driver stopped the bus after being forced. Flight G8 116 takes off, leaving 50+ passengers. Heights of negligence!”

The passenger also clarified that the bus driver to the aircraft did not stop the bus on time, and the flight took off without more than 50 passengers.

“The airline failed to ensure adequate arrangement for ground handling, preparation of load and trim sheet, flight dispatch and passenger/cargo handling,” DGCA said in a statement.

Earlier this week, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) fined Tata-owned Air India ten lakh rupees for failing to report an incident in which a passenger urinated on a vacant seat and a woman passenger’s blanket. The incident occurred on Air India’s Paris-New Delhi flight on December 6.