Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu has reacted strongly to the continuing IndiGo crisis, declaring that the government is not going to hesitate from the sternest action-all the way to removing the airline's CEO-if that is what the investigation calls for.
As per a report by the Times of India, in an interview, Naidu said the investigation will also look into the way the situation has been handled by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation as well.
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'I'm also responsible', says minister as flyers reel under disruptions
Opening up about the chaos faced by passengers, Naidu said that he is accountable for ensuring the aviation sector remains stable. “Yes, I'm apologising. I'm also responsible as a minister to ensure that this sector is flying high,” he said. He added that the incidents place an “extra responsibility” on him to stabilise operations and hold those responsible accountable, while safeguarding the rights of passengers.
Was the disruption intentional? Minister suggests it could be
On whether the crisis seemed deliberate, Naidu added, “There seems to be some kind of intentional thing,” referring to how Indigo manages its operations and the timing of the disruption. He said that investigators are scrutinising these aspects closely and stringent enforcement action would follow based on the findings.
CEO's job on the line if probe finds fault
On whether he would sack the IndiGo chief executive, Naidu said he "definitely" would if needed. He said penalties under existing rules would be imposed. Naidu also said that he had spent the last week holding non-stop review meetings, with a focus on primarily affected passengers.
Questions have also come up about the role of the regulator. Naidu said the investigation would examine the functioning of the DGCA, including staffing and oversight issues that have been raised.
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Criminal liability and compensation - Not ruled out
Naidu said any criminal liability under existing laws will be examined, keeping in mind the distress faced by passengers. On reports of extreme surge pricing, including fares touching Rs 92,000 on certain routes, Naidu acknowledged the hardship and said compensation will be “taken into account” as part of the review.
