Foreign airline crew in immigration check trouble

◗ Refusing to name the airlines, Sanjay Bhatia, DCP ( IGI) said that a case has been filed against 3 foreign crew for violating immigration

Three foreign airline crew members — US, Chinese, Finland — allegedly skipped immigration clearance at IGI airport on September last year in cohorts with multiple flight handling agencies.

On detailed inquiry, documentation and CCTV footage, it has been observed that this act by the crew members and the flight handlers is in gross violation of laws and makes them liable for commission of criminal offence, according to police. A case has been filed against them on Friday at IGI Airport police station.

On September 17, 2017, one non- scheduled flight bearing number, B- 7796, that departed from T3 with three foreign airline crew members identified as Conrad Pels ( US national), Visa Tappan Turbine ( Finland national) and Zhang I Aiming ( Chinese national), who skipped mandatory immigration clearance.

Refusing to name the airline/ s, Sanjay Bhatia, DCP ( IGI) said, "The act of skipping immigration clearance in arrival and departure is in violation of law and the DGCA directions regarding operation of non- scheduled international flights. A case has been filed and investigation is on. We will also scrutinise the role of ground handling teams and others involved in this crime."

On enquiry of flight handling agencies and checking CCTV footage, it was found flight No. B- 7796 landed at Ahmedabad as a non- scheduled flight on September 13, 2017. On disembarking, seven Chinese passengers went through arrival immigration clearance, but the three- crew members didn't disembark. Thereafter, the flight took off from Ahmedabad and landed at IGI the same evening and was parked at Bay- 82A, while the trio exited from T1.

On September 15, 2017, the same flight with the three- crew members took off for Headband from T1. It returned back to Delhi the same day carrying eight passengers from Headband. On September 17, 2017 the flight departed from IGI with seven foreign passengers along with Peels, Turbine, Aiming. The seven passengers went through immigration, while the trio bypassed it.

Mayank Mehra of Bird Worldwide Flight Services, who handled the flight on September 13, 2017 at Ahmedabad, Anupama Chettri of Trans Asian Aviation, who issued verbal directions to Anup Puri, deputy manager, customer services, Bird Execujet Airport Service Pvt Ltd to take the trio out without immigration formalities.

Ms Chettri and RV Indishow of Trans Asian Aviation ( India) Pvt Ltd admitted they had handled facilitated Pels, Tureinen, Aoming entry as well as exit from India.