Delhi Airport Denies Show-Cause Notice Over Alleged Security Lapse Involving 3 Air India Passengers

The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) on Monday denied receiving any show-cause notice over an alleged security lapse involving three Air India passengers travelling to Italy.

Responding to reports, DIAL said in a post on X, “We would like to clarify that Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) has not been served any Show Cause Notice in this matter.”

The airport operator said security at the Indira Gandhi International Airport is “managed under a multi-agency framework”.

DIAL added that it was “fully committed to supporting all security and government agencies and complying with all laid down protocols” in its capacity as the airport operator. It also urged people to refrain from posting or sharing unverified information.

What Was The Alleged Incident?

The denial came amid reports that three foreign passengers, allegedly Italian nationals, travelled from Delhi to Munich without undergoing immigration clearance, according to multiple media reports, including NDTV and News18.

The incident allegedly occurred in the early hours of September 4, when the three passengers arrived in Delhi from Amritsar under Air India’s hub-and-spoke arrangement.

At Amritsar, they were reportedly issued ‘D’ (domestic) boarding passes for their flight to Delhi, along with onward boarding passes for a Lufthansa flight from Delhi to Munich.

According to ministry sources cited by News18, passengers holding ‘D’ boarding passes were required to undergo immigration checks under the prescribed procedure. However, the three passengers allegedly bypassed immigration at Delhi airport and reached the boarding gate through the International-to-International (I-to-I) transfer area.

They reportedly boarded the Munich-bound flight without completing immigration clearance.

There was no immediate response from the civil aviation ministry or Air India regarding the alleged incident.

MHA Calls Meeting Over Alleged Security Lapse

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has called a meeting over the alleged security lapse, sources said.

The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 7pm at Kartavya Bhawan, according to the sources.

Secretaries and additional secretaries from the MHA and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, along with the Air India Group head, are expected to attend the meeting.

The MHA has asked the civil aviation ministry to make a presentation on the matter, the sources said.