Lok Sabha Question No. 1187 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-09
Subject: Opening of Emergency Exit Door of Aircraft
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Adoor Prakash, A.K.P. Chinraj, Anto  Antony

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 1187

(To be answered on the 9 th  February 2023)

## OPENING OF EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR OF AIRCRAFT

1187.

ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH

SHRI A.K.P. CHINRAJ

SHRI ANTO ANTONY

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether airline operator of flight 6E 7339 (Chennai to Tiruchirapalli) in Chennai Airport on December 10, 2022 reported to Directorate General of Civil  Aviation  (DGCA)  regarding  opening  of  the  emergency  exit  door unwantedly by a passenger during the boarding process and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the actions taken against the passenger by DGCA as per the civil aviation requirements for unwantedly opening the emergency exit.
- (c) whether the DGCA ordered any investigation in this matter, if so, the details thereof including the findings and the action taken thereon;
- (d) the details of the provision of Aircraft Rules and Regulations under which apology can be accepted for unwantedly opening the emergency exit door without instructions of the captain;
- (e) the details of safety mechanism to be followed if the emergency exit door was opened without instructions of the captain as per existing rules and regulations;
- (f) whether the DGCA has recently penalized Air India for Rupees thirty
- lakhs; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

(a) to (d) As per Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section 5 Series C Part I regarding " Notification of incidents and investigation thereof" issued by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the occurrence regarding alleged opening of emergency exit door, while the aircraft was on ground, (Indigo flight 6E7339, Chennai to Trichy on 10 December, 2022) did not come

under the category of 'reportable occurrence'. The matter was investigated by the concerned airline. The flight departed only after completing all the safety checks/ protocols. Further, as per the CAR on handling of unruly passengers, whenever an airline receives a complaint of unruly behaviour from the pilot-in-command, the incident is referred by the airline to an internal committee constituted by them as per provisions of CAR and based on the information regarding decision taken by the internal committee, DGCA maintains "No Fly List". (e) As per maintenance procedures prescribed by the manufacturer, the emergency exit door is required to be installed back and pressurisation check carried out before the aircraft is released for flight. (f) & (g) Yes, Sir. The airline failed to report to DGCA the incidence of passenger misbehaviour and delayed reporting of incidence to Internal Committee. The incident which occurred on AI-102 flight on 26.11.2022 from New York to New Delhi.  Due to the non-compliance of the CAR Section 3, Series M, Part VI issued by DGCA, a penalty of Rs. 30 Lakh was imposed on Air India by DGCA in January 2023.

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