The Hindu : Front Page : U.S. airline apologises to Kalam

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 23, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

U.S. airline apologises to Kalam

Vinay Kumar

Authorities should resolve differences in regulations: Continental Airlines
Former President never objected to checks, says Kalam aides

NEW DELHI: Faced with mounting criticism of the disrespect shown to the former President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, America’s Continental Airlines on Wednesday apologised for frisking him at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here in breach of protocol. The carrier said it did not intend to offend the former President or the sentiments of the people of the country.

As outrage continues to simmer in and outside Parliament over the frisking of Dr. Kalam, security and aviation experts say the U.S.-based carrier should have adhered to protocol guidelines issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), which exempt certain categories of the country’s VVIPs from pre-embarkation security checks at all Indian airports.

“We have tendered a formal apology to Dr. Kalam, and we sincerely hope that he will fly with us again,” the airline said in a statement. “Continental Airlines apologises to Dr. Kalam for any misunderstanding or inconvenience related to the security screening on April 21,” it said, adding that the airline was honoured to have flown such a respected leader.

In its statement on Tuesday, the airline attempted to take shelter behind the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requirements, which impose a final security check in the aerobridge just before boarding the aircraft, and implied that Dr. Kalam was not exempt from frisking.

“The procedure is followed by all carriers flying to the U.S. from most countries in the world, and there is no exemption to this rule,” it said.

“Not compatible”

However, the airline on Wednesday reiterated its commitment to comply with regulations mandated by local authorities like the BCAS, as well as U.S. authorities. “While ensuring compliance with TSA and BCAS requirements imposed on us, we sometimes encounter circumstances wherein TSA and BCAS regulations are not compatible,” the statement said.

“We hope the respective government authorities resolve these differences at the earliest in order to avoid any recurrence of this situation,” the airline said. The statement added that Continental Airlines was also addressing queries raised in the show cause given to it by the BCAS.

Though Dr. Kalam has not commented on the incident, his aides said the former President has never objected to security checks at airports, and that he complied with them without a fuss during his tour to the U.S. in April.

All former Presidents and former Vice Presidents included in the list of VVIPs, that is updated and issued by the BCAS, are exempted from pre-embarkation security checks and frisking at Indian airports. The three service chiefs were added to the list about a year ago.

The list, headed by the President, includes the Vice President, Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Chief Justices of High Courts, judges of the Supreme Court, Leaders of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State in the Union Council of Ministers, all Governors and Lieutenant-Governors of Union Territories, and Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of Union Territories.

The list also exempts the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Bharat Ratna awardees, Chief Election Commissioner, Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Attorney-General of India, and the Cabinet Secretary.

Ambassadors of foreign countries, Charge d’affaires, High Commissioners and their spouses are also exempted.

Visiting foreign dignitaries of a certain status, the Dalai Lama, SPG protectees, and Robert Vadra also fall in the list of the exempted.

Admitting that the list was “too long,” security sources say that protocol guidelines are generally reciprocated by other countries which extend the same level of courtesy to visiting VVIPs.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page