DGCA Issues Guidelines For Airlines After Backlash Over IndiGo Denying Boarding To Disabled Child

DCGA has also asked the public to send in their comments about the draft rules by July 2, after which it will issue the final rules.

(Representative Image/ Getty)

Days after low-cost carrier IndiGo denied boarding to a specially-abled child at Ranchi airport, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday issued guidelines for airlines on persons with disability/reduced mobility and stated that airline shall not refuse carriage of any person on basis of disability. However, if an airline perceives that the health of such pax may deteriorate in-flight, the said passenger will have to be examined by a doctor. 

A Hyderabad-bound IndiGo flight left behind the child and his parents at the Ranchi airport on May 7. Citing the event as "inappropriate handling" of passengers, a DGCA panel had decided to issue a show cause notice to the airline.

"If an airline feels a specially abled passenger's health is likely to deteriorate during a flight, it must consult a doctor at the airport and take an appropriate call on whether boarding should be denied to the flyer or not," the draft rules issued by the DGCA stated. 

"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 who shall categorically state the medical condition and whether the passenger is fit to fly or not. After obtaining the medical opinion, the airline shall take the appropriate call," it mentioned.

Additionally, regulator has also asked the public to send in their comments about the draft rules by July 2, after which it will issue the final rules.

Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had on May 9 said on Twitter that no human being should have to go through this and he himself was investigating the Ranchi incident.

DGCA had also said that behaviour of the IndiGo ground staff and the handling of the child was "deficient" and it "exacerbated the situation".

"A more compassionate handling would have smoothened nerves, and calmed the child. It would have obviated the need for the extreme step resulting in denied boarding to the passengers," it said in a note.