…Meanwhile IndiGo, the airline in question, has regretted the incident.
WHAT: Celebrated Indian Bharatanatyam dancer Prathibha Prahlad has written to M Sathiyavathy, director-general of civil aviation, about her bitter experiences at Bengaluru and Delhi airports with IndiGo airlines. Prathibha Prahlad was flying to Delhi from Bengaluru on July 8 when she found her black Samsonite suitcase ripped apart minutes before boarding the aircraft. She has claimed that the airline staff didn’t bother to frisk the damaged suitcase and loaded it hurriedly after repairing it on a temporary basis. The callous gesture by the airlines has posed major security concern, as also discussed by Prathibha Prahlad’s many friends after she broke the news on Facebook.
Point to be Noted: “What if someone had placed a ‘BOMB’ in my suitcase? It was not checked for security before loading. And what if contraband drugs had been placed in my suitcase without anyone knowing? What if I were an international passenger with a connecting flight in Delhi and had no means or access to my suitcase before boarding my international flight? Who would ensure my safety in these situations? And who would take responsibility and accountability for my personal belongings and for my safety and security? I have been informed by some friends that they too have lost things in Bengaluru airport, especially those who take night flights out. This seems to be a commonly done thing. To my mind, it poses a more serious ‘security threat’,” Prathibha Prahlad has written in her email to the DG. (Read below full text of her email to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, as accessed by Born of Web)
Development: IndiGo has regretted the incident and promised to repair damage at ‘company’s cost.’ “During the luggage loading process, the zip of her (Prathibha Prahlad) baggage got ripped apart. On noticing this, IndiGo team immediately brought the baggage near to the ramp, so that Ms Prahlad could check the stuff herself. Our ramp staff along with Ms Prahlad locked the baggage, and learned that no articles from the baggage were missing. IndiGo Duty Manager, who was present all the times, profusely empathised and offered all possible assistance to Ms Prahlad. Our customer relations team is trying to reach her and will ensure to get the baggage repaired at company’s cost,” the airline told us over email.
Trick: Prathibha Prahlad first highlighted the issue on Facebook which fanned the controversy in public forum. The Times of India from Bangalore earlier reported that the luggage was overstuffed.
Below is the email sent by Prathibha Prahlad to DGCA M Sathiyavathy
To,
Smt M Satiyavathy
Director General
Directorate General of Civil Aviation
Govt. Of India
Aurobindo Marg
New Delhi
Dear Smt Satiyavathy,
I am forwarding a mail sent to Indigo Airlines about what transpired in Bengaluru Airport recently. My checked in baggage was found with its zip ripped apart at the tarmac, after which the Airline staff hurriedly tried to close it somehow and loaded my suitcase, without passing it through security once again.
I fear for the safety of passengers travelling on Indigo, who God forbid, have to go through a similar situation. What if someone had placed a ‘BOMB’ in my suitcase? It was not checked for security before loading. And what if contraband drugs had been placed in my suitcase without anyone knowing? What if I were an international passenger with a connecting flight in Delhi and had no means or access to my suitcase before boarding my international flight?
Who would ensure my safety in these situations? And who would take responsibility and accountability for my personal belongings and for my safety and security?
I have been informed by some friends that they too have lost things in Bengaluru airport – especially those who take night flights out. This seems to be a commonly done thing. To my mind, it poses a more serious “security threat”. Does the DGCA have any corrective measures in place to ensure we are safe when we travel in our country?
I am bringing this to your notice with the hope that you will see that the issue is serious and can be a grave potential threat to the security of passengers if not addressed/rectified immediately.
Thank you.
Best regards,
Prathibha Prahlad
