Cabinet Secretary reviews emergency response systems at airports

New Delhi, Feb 7 (ANI): Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrashekhar today held a meeting to review the response mechanism of various organizations involved in aviation security in case of an emergency scenario.

The meeting was held against the backdrop of the incident that had taken place at the IGI Airport, Delhi on February 1, 2009, which had resulted in an emergency landing of the Indigo Flight 6E-334, due to the disruptive behaviour of a passenger.

After intense deliberations with all agencies involved, it was decided that the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of all concerned agencies to be up-dated, for faster and effective response; flow of information and decision-making process to be streamlined further; and airports infrastructure, prescribed for emergency situation, to be maintained in operational readiness, at all times.

It was also decided that special training needs to be identified for pilots and cabin crew of all airlines to handle emergency situations; and all civil airports across the country, to have regular emergency drills and briefing programmes for all concerned agencies to handle emergency situation.

The meeting was attended by Secretaries in the Ministries of Home, Defence, Civil Aviation, External Affairs, Cabinet Secretariat, and senior officers of PIB, DGCA, CISF, IB, NSG, BCAS, AAI, DIAL and Home Secretary, Government of NCT, Delhi. (ANI)