Immigration Breach Prompts Action as Aviation Minister Stresses Security

The government has suspended an Air India employee following a security and immigration lapse in which three foreign nationals were allowed to board an international flight without completing mandatory departure immigration formalities, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said on Tuesday.

The incident took place earlier this month and involved three Italian nationals travelling from Amritsar to Munich via Delhi under India’s hub-and-spoke aviation model.

The passengers reportedly boarded the Delhi-Munich flight without undergoing the required departure immigration clearance. Following the incident, the Civil Aviation Ministry issued a show-cause notice to Air India.

Naidu said an investigation found that the Air India personnel responsible for escorting passengers through designated airport routes had failed to follow the prescribed procedures. The employee identified as responsible for the lapse was subsequently suspended.

The Civil Aviation Minister stressed that while the government is working to make air travel more convenient through streamlined passenger processes, security and immigration procedures cannot be compromised.

He said the incident has led to a detailed review of operational procedures governing the movement of connecting international passengers.

Following the lapse, the ministry held consultations with Air India and reviewed safeguards covering different stages of the passenger journey. Authorities are now working on a multi-layered verification mechanism aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.

The proposed framework is expected to introduce multiple verification points rather than relying on a single checkpoint.

The review covers several aspects of passenger handling, including boarding pass issuance, passenger routing, segregation and movement within airport premises, as well as the role of the DigiYatra system.

Officials are also examining procedures followed by airline and ground-handling personnel at transfer points to identify potential gaps and strengthen oversight.

The incident comes as the government expands the hub-and-spoke model to facilitate international travel for passengers from regional cities.

Under the system, eligible travellers can complete immigration and customs formalities at their originating airport before connecting to international flights through major hubs such as Delhi.

The model is currently operational from cities including Amritsar, Varanasi and Ahmedabad and forms part of the government's broader efforts to improve connectivity from non-metro cities and strengthen India’s position as an international aviation hub.

The latest review is expected to focus on ensuring that greater passenger convenience under the hub-and-spoke model is accompanied by robust immigration and security checks throughout the connecting journey.