Air passengers escaped from outside Silchar Airport or Testing site rather than Airport, clarifies AAI Silchar

April 22: Around 385 air passengers who landed at Silchar Airport on Wednesday evaded the mandatory Covid test as notified by the Assam Government. Clarifying it’s stand, Airport Director, AAI Silchar Airport in a press release issued on Thursday stated that “We would like to clarify that the unfortunate incident happened outside the perimeter of Airport & it has nothing to do with Security of AAI. It is our endeavor to provide seamless services to passengers on 24/7 basis & would remain committed to do so in future.”

The Press release stated, “It has come to notice of Airports Authority of India through various news/ reports/ articles/ online reads that around 300 passengers fled from Silchar Airport to escape mandatory Covid-19 tests. This is being posted by several media houses through online and social media as well. It has raised several questions over security and arrangements at Silchar Airport.”

It is in this backdrop, AAI, Silchar Airport clarified that this incident was not reported at the Airport and never any passengers has escaped from security checks or from the designated area at passenger’s terminal building. However, the matter was related to the screening of the arriving passenger by transporting them from outside Airport, through ASTC buses to the Mahatma Gandhi Model Hospital, Tikal (Salganga). There, both RAT and RT-PCR tests are being conducted by the District Health Department.

A clear statement was released by ADC, Cachar on above incident which reads, “Since it was first day, around 300 passengers moved out of our system without testing & rather shouting at our personnel. We didn’t anticipate so much indiscipline from flight passengers, but all of them are traceable as we have their contact details.”  AAI Silchar Airport reiterated that air passengers escaped from outside Silchar Airport or Testing site rather than Airport.

Meanwhile, Cachar District Administration has filed an FIR against 385 such erring air passengers on Thursday.