IndiGo fined Rs 5 Lakh for denying boy with special needs to board flight from Ranchi Airport

IndiGo on Saturday has been fined Rs 5 lakh for denying boarding to a specially abled child at the Ranchi airport recently.

"Based on the findings during the enquiry, a show cause notice was issued to IndiGo Airlines through its authorised representative, in connection with special child offloading case in Ranchi. In view of this, the Competent Authority in DGCA has decided to impose a penalty of Rs 5 lakhs on the airline under the provisions of the relevant Aircraft Rules," Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said.

Earlier the DGCA had issued show-cause notice to domestic carrier IndiGo in relation to the case. The airline had said the boy was denied boarding as he was "visibly in panic".

On May 7, an IndiGo manager did not allow the child to board a flight. According to an eyewitness account shared on Twitter, the airlines allegedly announced that the child was a flight risk. 

He even compared the child's condition, teenage assertiveness, to that of drunken passengers.

The flight departed for Hyderabad, leaving behind the child and their parents.