Air Passengers Not Adhering To COVID-19 Protocols Should Be De-Boarded: DGCA To Airlines

Amid an upsurge in the COVID-19 cases in the nation over the past days, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed that passengers should be de-boarded from the flights if they do not abide by the COVID-19 appropriate behaviour, reports Livemint.

The civil aviation regulator has ordered that if a passenger violates protocol despite repeated warnings then the passenger will be treated as 'Unruly Passenger'.

In its circular issued on Saturday (13 March), the DGCA has stated that it has noticed that some passengers undertaking air journey do not adhere to the COVID-19 protocols which essentially involve wearing of masks that should not be below the nose during at any time of the journey from entering the airport for departure to exiting the airport after arrival.

The regulator has also added that some passengers after entering the airport premises do not wear the mask properly, and also do not maintain social distancing. It has also noted that some passengers do not wear the masks properly while onboard the aircraft.

DGCA has directed the CISF and police personnel deployed at the entrances of the airports to ensure that no one is allowed to enter the airport without wearing a mask.

It has also added that in case any passenger does not follow the protocol, they should be handed over to security agencies after proper warnings, stressing that if required, they may be dealt with as per law.