Shree. ( Advocate.) 22 July 2009

Dr Abdul Kalam frisked at Delhi airport

Dr Abdul Kalam frisked at Delhi airport Mr. Kalam was frisked by the Airlines at the embarkation point some time back when he was going to the US. Bharat Ratna, Dr. Abdul Kalam Insulted by Continental Airlines Taking a serious note of the "unpardonable" act of frisking of former President A P J Abdul Kalam at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here, government has slapped a show cause notice to the US-based Continental Airlines for violating guidelines. "Not only the preliminary inquiry has been ordered but we also have a preliminary report on the basis of which the Continental Airlines has been issued a show cause notice why action for wilful violation should not be taken," Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Kalam was reportedly forced to wait on the aerobridge even as the airlines security personnel debated whether to put him under the security scanner or not. Kalam was asked to surrender before the security officials for a complete body check and remove his footwear as well. However, the Continental Airlines defended the same saying that it was a regular security check as the policy of the company is to frisk everyone. They also went on to add that there is no special rule for VIP or VVIPs. "He had to go through the entire security check because it is our policy to frisk everyone. This is the policy Continental Airlines follows over the world. There is no special rule for VIP or VVIP. In fact, Kalam was very cooperative and underwent the entire process which happened over a month ago," said the public relations officer of Continental Airlines. Would these morons treat an ex US president the same way? This is a national shame Ban the morons???? Start by frisking the next US senator that visits India??

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Guest (Guest) 22 July 2009

After the reports of frisking of former President APJ Abdul Kalam by a private American airline led to a huge uproar in the parliament and the VVIP circle, the Continental Airlines (responsible for the protocol breach) has apologized on Wednesday for any inconvenience caused to the former President.

The airlines issued a statement saying that it has tendered a formal apology to Dr Kalam and sincerely hoped he would fly with them again. “We apologise to Dr.Kalam for any inconvenience caused. The intention was never to offend the sentiments of Dr. Kalam,” a television report quoted from the apology of the Continental Airlines on Wednesday. “We reiterate our commitment to comply with the rules,” the Airlines added.

Earlier on Tuesday frisking of former President A P J Abdul Kalam by the staff of America's Continental Airline caused uproar in Parliament after which the Government registered an FIR here against the ‘concerned staff’ of the airlines. 77-year-old Kalam was frisked in violation of the mandatory protocol at Delhi International airport before he was to board the Newark-bound Continental Airline flight on April 21. The staff of the airline frisked him after which he was allowed to board the plane. The incident was roundly condemned in Parliament where Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel described the act as ‘unpardonable’ and assured ‘corrective action’.

Later, a case was registered after the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) approached the police against the staff of the American airliner for carrying out pre-embarkation body check of Kalam, which is in gross violation of a BCAS circular which exempts specified VVIPs/VIPs from security checks. "The BCAS has 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," an official statement said. Under the Act, the punishment is two years imprisonment or fine upto Rs 10 lakh or both, if found guilty.

However, responding to the criticism, the airline said the transportation security administration requirements impose a final security check in the aerobridge just before boarding the aircraft. "The procedure is followed by all carriers flying to the US from most of the countries in the world and there is no exemption to this rule", the airline said in a statement. "Security and customer service are key components for us at Continental Airlines. We believe that Dr.Kalam was not offended and we would like to thank him again for flying with us", the statement said adding it was honoured and proud to have had such a distinguished customer and hoped he has been ‘pleased by our service’.