The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has slapped a Rs 10 lakh fine on Go First airline for leaving behind 55 passengers with valid boarding passes in a bus on the tarmac at the Bangalore airport as its plane took off for Delhi on Jan 8.

DGCA had issued a show cause notice to the Accountable Manager of Go First, asking the airline to explain why enforcement action should not be taken against them for dereliction of their regulatory obligations. Go First submitted a reply on Wednesday.

“Perusal of reply of M/s Go First reveals that there was improper communication, coordination between terminal coordinator, commercial staff and crew regarding boarding of passengers in the aircraft,” DGCA said on Friday.

The civil aviation regulator ruled that the airline failed to ensure adequate arrangement for “ground handling, preparation of load and trim sheet, flight dispatch and passenger/cargo handling” and, therefore, the enforcement action in the form of financial penalty has been imposed.