IndiGo fires ground staff for security lapse
Friday, 15 May, 2016
0
IndiGo airlines said it has fired two ground staff officers and suspended three more after uncovering a security breach last month.
The airline found officers at Srinigar Airport allowed a senior airports official to travel on a boarding pass which was issued to another person.
Chief security officer of the Airport Authority of India Tilak Raj flew from Srinagar to New Delhi using the boarding pass of another AAI official, Vimal Kumar.
"As per the internal investigation conducted by IndiGo, it was observed that Tilak Raj flew from Srinagar to New Delhi on April 1 using a boarding pass in the name of Vimal Kumar, an AAI official at the Srinagar airport," a statement said.
"This passenger was observed breaching security protocols multiple times at Srinagar airport," it said.
The investigation found Kumar had ordered two colleagues who were based in Srinagar to collect his boarding pass on his behalf.
"Following protocol, the airline staff asked the two AAI officials to present a photo identity card. The staff learned that the two AAI officials were at the airport to collect the boarding pass for their senior," the statement said.
"Based on working relations with AAI officials, the staff agreed to issue the boarding pass, but categorical remarks were inserted in the system against this request. After the boarding of 6E-436 flight, three persons reported at the boarding gate at the last minute. All three persons were informed by the boarding gate staff that boarding is closed for this flight."
"This resulted in an argument between the boarding staff and the three persons, one of them being Tilak Raj. The three persons dismissed the instructions given by the boarding gate staff and walked towards the aerobridge to board the aircraft."
In addition to the sackings of assistant station manager Mohammad Nadeem and security officer Farhat Quraishi, three ground staff were suspended for one week.
Citing a serious lapse in security protocol at India’s most heavily guarded airport, senior superintendent of police Manzoor Ahmad Dalal said authorities are still to determine if charges will be brought against the AAI officials.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Clearing CSS/JS assets' cache... Please wait until this notice disappears...
Updating... Please wait...
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements