The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has proposed to make it mandatory for airlines to consult an airport doctor before denying boarding to a passenger with special needs.
The regulator’s move comes weeks after an incident at Ranchi Airport where India’s largest airline, IndiGo, refused to let a disabled teenager board its aircraft. DGCA had slapped a penalty of Rs 5 lakh on IndiGo.
“Airline shall not refuse carriage of any person on the basis of disability. 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,” the aviation regulator said in a draft proposal,
