FIR registered against continental Airlines personnel for carrying out pre-embarkation security check of ex-president of india
	18:55 IST

Upon the directions of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has today registered an FIR against the American airline - Continental Airlines for carrying out pre-embarkation body check of the Ex-President of India, Shri APJ Abdul Kalam, in gross violation of BCAS Circular No.6/2008 which exempts specified VVIPs/VIPs from pre-embarkation security checks. As per the FIR, on 21 April, 2009, Shri Abdul Kalam was traveling by Continental Airlines Flight No.CO-083 from IGI Airport, New Delhi to New York. As he proceeded towards the aircraft, the staff of the Continental Airlines carried out frisking of Shri Abdul Kalam in contravention to the BCAS rule even as the CISF personnel pointed out that he was exempt from such checks. An enquiry was ordered into the matter which established that the staff had wrongfully, under the direction of their Security-in-Charge, Country Director and Station Manager, carried out pre-embarkation body check of Shri Abdul Kalam. A Show Cause Notice was issued on 9 July, 2009 to the Station Manager of Continental Airline asking as to why action should not be taken against them under Section 11A of Aircraft Act, 1934. The airline was given 7 days to respond. No reply has been received from the airline till date. The BCAS has, thus, registered an FIR with the SHO, IGI Airport Police Station against all the concerned staff of the Continental Airlines under Section 11A of Aircraft Act, 1934 for willful violation of the directions issued by BCAS. ******* MC/MK