Three-year-old steps on baggage belt, saved by Delhi airport staff

NEWDELHI: Alert staff at Delhi airport saved a three-year-old boy who had jumped on to a five-layered baggage conveyor belt and reached the second level, after noticing his image on the screen. The security staff of Delhi airport immediately stopped the belt and rescued the child. This happened in late May.

“On the afternoon of May 25, a group of nine ravelling to Mumbai was standing near the check-in counter. A child in the group suddenly climbed the baggage feeder belt, walked over it and jumped onto the main conveyor belt which was in operation at that time,” said a spokesperson for Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL).

The group was to travel on an Indigo flight to Mumbai from terminal 1 of the Delhi airport.

“He was spotted by a DIAL employee at a subsequent stage; this person immediately stopped the belt and ensured the child’s safety. The child was examined by a Medanta Doctor at the airport, who cleared him for flying. His parents apologised for their momentary distraction, which caused the incident. They were highly appreciative of the airport’s timely response and prompt action by the DIAL staff in handling this emergency,” the spokesperson added. The in-line baggage system at Delhi airport has five levels and bags go through several screeners before being loaded on to a plane.

Airport officials said they keep sensitising passengers to not leave their children unattended, especially near the check-in counters, as there have been cases of kids climbing on to the conveyor belt in the past.

Two years ago, a four-year-old girl climbed on to the conveyor belt near a check-in counter. She too was rescued.

“We advise parents to take care of the children as they tend to rush towards escalators or moving baggage belts. As soon as any airport staff notices it, they immediately stop the machine,” said an airport official.