Indian Airlines (IA) has been fined Rs one lakh by the Delhi Consumer Commission for its 'negligence' which caused injuries to a passenger's head as a suitcase from the aircraft's overhead luggage bin fell on him.
NEW DELHI: Indian Airlines (IA) has been fined Rs one lakh by the Delhi Consumer Commission for its 'negligence' which caused injuries to a passenger's head as a suitcase from the aircraft's overhead luggage bin fell on him.
"Nature of occurrence that took place manifestly demonstrates the utter negligence on the part of the IA in not taking care and caution by ensuring that overhead bins were properly secured and luggage were securely stored in them," the Commission's President Justice J D Kapoor said.
The Commission also criticised the state-owned domestic airliner's practice of allowing passengers carry heavy baggages, which should generally be booked in its cargo as registered luggage, to prevent accidents.
"IA was guilty of the grossest kind of deficiency in service, firstly by allowing heavy baggages as hand bags and secondly for not ensuring, particularly before landing, that all the overhead bins are properly secured," it noted in a recent order.
Justice Kapoor also advised air carrier companies to review and recast the rules regarding the weight of the luggage that could be permitted inside aircrafts so as to ensure safety of their passengers.
The Commission's directions came on a complaint by S K Makhija, who sustained serious injuries on his head during an air travel from Delhi to Kolkata on July 18, 2000, after a heavy suitcase fell on his head from the overhead bin.
Due to the sudden impact, Makhija, a native of Bhopal, lost consciousness and was taken to a hospital where he was given primary treatment, the complaint said, adding he was still under medical care for these injuries.
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