Highly avoidable: DGCA in show cause notice to Go First for leaving 50+ flyers behind

The regulator has issued the show cause notice to Accountable Manager/Chief Operation Officer of Go First

The country's civil aviation regulator on Tuesday issued a show-cause notice to low-cost airline Go First for leaving behind 55 passengers in a coach at Bengaluru airport, even as the carrier issued an apology and derostered all the staff involved in the incident.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued the show-cause notice to the accountable manager or chief operating officer of Go First after finding that the airline committed "multiple mistakes" leading to the incident.

"In the instant case, multiple mistakes such as lack of proper communication, coordination, reconciliation and confirmation have resulted in a highly avoidable situation," the DGCA said in a statement.

The regulator has asked the airline as to why enforcement action should not be taken against them for dereliction of their regulatory obligations. However, it gave two weeks time to submit its reply to the DGCA. Further action will be taken on the basis of the airline's response, officials said.

Separately, the Go First issued an apology to passengers of its Bengaluru-Delhi flight, who were left behind. It said an "inadvertent oversight" in the reconciliation of the flight led to the incident.

The airline said it had ordered an inquiry into what led to the incident while derostering all staff involved in the incident. "We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused to the passengers due to an inadvertent oversight in the reconciliation of flight G8 116, from Bengaluru to Delhi," Go First said in a statement.

Arrangements were made for passengers on alternate airlines to Delhi and onward to other destinations.

"The airline has decided to offer all affected passengers one free ticket for travel on any domestic sector in the next 12 months," it said.