Probe will also cover DGCA, says ministerThe probe into the IndiGo fiasco will also look into regulator, DGCA’s handling of the situation, civil aviation minister K Ram Mohan Naidu said in an interview. Apologising for the problems faced by flyers, he added that govt would take strict and appropriate action against the airline, including removal of the CEO, if required. ‘Will definitely sack IndiGo CEO if it comes to that’
Should somebody apologise for the IndiGo mess?
- Yes, I’m apologising. I’m also responsible as a minister to ensure that this sector is flying high. When this kind of incidents happen, it puts extra responsibility on me. To ensure things are normalised. To ensure people who are responsible for this are held accountable. And to ensure that such situations don’t arise in the future. While keeping safety and passenger rights intact, if not strengthened.
Do you believe this was deliberately done by IndiGo?
- There seems to be some kind of intentional thing. The way they have been operating, the way they have control over their operations, this shouldn’t have happened… Why has it come at that specific point of time? How did it lead us into that situation? This is something we are thoroughly investigating. And it will be followed by very strict & appropriate enforcement action.
Will you sack the CEO?
- If it comes to that, definitely I will do it. I will charge them with all the penalties that are there. Definitely, I will look into all of those aspects… For past seven days, I have not slept properly. I’ve just been sitting in the office doing continuous review meetings. My focus was on the passengers.
I also want to ask you about DGCA. Staffing is part of the problem. There are experts & NGOs in court who have said that IndiGo actually runs DGCA. Are you aware of this situation?
- When the investigation is there, we are going to look into DGCA as well.
In your investigation so far, is there a criminal liability case made up?
- Criminal liability, whatever is there within the act and rules, everything will be taken, keeping into account the distress that has been faced by the passengers.
What will you say to those people who had to pay Rs 92,000 for a Delhi-Bengaluru flight because there was surge pricing? And the regulator was literally sleeping on the wheel.
- Whoever has faced these hardships, I also want to say that we regret the inconvenience that has happened. We sympathise with them.
Will you compensate them?
- We’ll take that into account.
