DGCA issues show cause notice to Go First

GoFirst Airlines on Monday took off from Bengaluru and left 55 passengers behind at Bangalore Airport after which the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday issued a show cause notice to the Chief Operation Officer of Go First airlines.

“After perusal of the reply submitted by Go First through email dated Tuesday, prima facie it emerges that Go First failed to comply with the provision specified in para 9 and 13 of CAR Section 3, Series C, Part II issued by DGCA resulted in the violation of Para (1A) of Rule 134 read with Schedule XI of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 and Go First has failed to comply with the provision specified in para 5.2 of ATC 02 of 2019,” the statement said.

“As per the above-referred regulations, the concerned airline is responsible to ensure adequate arrangement for ground handling, preparation of load and trim sheet, flight dispatch, and passenger/cargo handling and also ensuring that all the ground handling staff engaged in passenger handling undergo periodic soft skill training for sensitization, courtesy, behavior and procedures for assisting the passengers,” the statement reads.

Earlier on Monday 55 passengers at Bangalore airport were left behind in the Delhi-bound Go First flight G8-116. Many passengers registered a complaint against Go First.

Meanwhile, the passenger further stated that the driver of the bus to the aircraft didn’t stop the bus on time after which without taking 50 passengers the flight took off.

Moreover, out of 55 passengers 53 passengers have shifted some other flights destined for different locations and the other two passengers got their refund along with their luggage.

After the incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday sought a report from GoFirst Airlines.

“We have sought a report and shall take stringent action against those responsible,” a senior DGCA official said.

However, into the incident, an inquiry has been initiated by Go First, who said, “We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to the passengers due to an inadvertent oversight in the reconciliation of flight G8 116, from Bengaluru to Delhi. Passengers were accommodated on alternate airlines to Delhi and onward to other destinations. We deeply appreciate and value your patience in bearing with us.”

“In line with our philosophy of customer centricity, the airline has decided to offer all affected passengers one free ticket for travel on any domestic sector in the next 12 months. The airline has initiated an inquiry into the incident and the matter is being investigated. All concerned staff of the roaster till the inquiry is going on,” the airlines stated.