SHUBHANGI SHIFA
Ranchi, May 9: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on Monday informed that appropriate action is being taken in the matter where the staff of IndiGo airlines barred a specially-abled adolescent from boarding a flight at the Ranchi airport. As the boy was prohibited from boarding the airline’s Ranchi-Hyderabad flight, his parents also decided to not take the flight.
Notably, the apex child rights body NCPCR took cognisance of IndiGo airlines barring the specially-abled child from boarding a flight and said appropriate action will be taken.
In a tweet, the child rights body chairperson Priyank Kanoongo said, “An incident of misbehaviour with a specially-abled child by the staff of IndiGo at Ranchi airport has come out. Cognizance is being taken for appropriate action.”
राँची विमानतल पर @IndiGo6E एअरलाइंज़ द्वारा एक दिव्यांग बच्चे के साथ दुर्व्यवहार का मामला प्रकाश में आया है।
उचित कार्यवाही हेतु संज्ञान लिया जा रहा है।@NCPCR_— प्रियंक कानूनगो Priyank Kanoongo (@KanoongoPriyank) May 9, 2022
Meanwhile, as per IndiGo, it barred the specially-abled child from boarding the flight on Saturday as he was in a state of panic’. “In view of the safety of passengers, a specially-abled child could not board the flight with his family on May 7, as he was in a state of panic,” it further added.
Stressing that the ground staff tried to calm him, an airline official on the condition of not being named added, “We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers. IndiGo prides itself on being an inclusive organisation, be it for employees or its customers; and over 75,000 specially-abled passengers fly with us every month.”
On the other hand, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is also probing this incident and will take appropriate action. DGCA chief Arun Kumar had on Sunday said that the regulator has sought a report from IndiGo on this matter.
Along with this, Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Monday that no human being should have to go through this and he himself is investigating the incident. Notably, Saturday’s incident came to light after other passengers posted about this incident on social media on Sunday.
