ID :
71608
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 19:55
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/71608
The shortlink copeid
Continental Airlines apologises to Kalam on frisking issue
New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) America's Continental Airlines,
which had Tuesday said there could be no exception to security
frisking of its passengers, Wednesday apologised to former
President A P J Abdul Kalam following a political uproar in
India.
In its apology to Kalam for frisking him at the
international airport here in breach of protocol, it said it
did not intend to offend the former President or the
sentiments of the people of the country.
"We have tendered a formal apology to Dr Kalam and we
sincerely hope he will fly with us again," the airline said in
a statement.
The statement comes in the backdrop of the uproar in
Parliament Tuesday over the frisking of the 77-year-old
former President before he was to board a Newark-bound flight
of the airline on April 21. The government had later
registered an FIR against the "concerned staff" of the
airline.
"Continental Airlines apologises to Dr Kalam for any
misunderstanding and/or inconvenience related to the security
screening on April 21," the statement said.
"Our intention was never to offend Dr Kalam or the
sentiments of the people of India. Continental Airlines takes
great pride and is honoured to have flown a respectable leader
such as Kalam," it said.
The incident was condemned in Parliament where Civil
Aviation Minister Praful Patel had described the act of
frisking Kalam, who is exempted from security checks, as
"unpardonable" and assured "corrective action".
The Civil Aviation Ministry has ordered a probe into
the incident involving the ground security staff of the
airline which subjected Kalam to the security check.
The airline had Tuesday implied that Kalam was not
exempt from frisking before boarding the aircraft.
In Wednesday's statement, the airline said, it
reiterates its commitment to comply with regulations mandated
by local authorities (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security) as
well as US authorities.
"While ensuring compliance with TSA (of the US) and
BCAS requirements imposed on us, we sometimes encounter
circumstances wherein TSA and BCAS regulations are not
compatible.
"We hope the respective government authorities
resolve these difference at the earliest in order to avoid any
recurrence of this situation in the future," the statement
said.
The airline said it is also formally addressing the
queries raised in the show cause notice issues by BCAS. PTI
which had Tuesday said there could be no exception to security
frisking of its passengers, Wednesday apologised to former
President A P J Abdul Kalam following a political uproar in
India.
In its apology to Kalam for frisking him at the
international airport here in breach of protocol, it said it
did not intend to offend the former President or the
sentiments of the people of the country.
"We have tendered a formal apology to Dr Kalam and we
sincerely hope he will fly with us again," the airline said in
a statement.
The statement comes in the backdrop of the uproar in
Parliament Tuesday over the frisking of the 77-year-old
former President before he was to board a Newark-bound flight
of the airline on April 21. The government had later
registered an FIR against the "concerned staff" of the
airline.
"Continental Airlines apologises to Dr Kalam for any
misunderstanding and/or inconvenience related to the security
screening on April 21," the statement said.
"Our intention was never to offend Dr Kalam or the
sentiments of the people of India. Continental Airlines takes
great pride and is honoured to have flown a respectable leader
such as Kalam," it said.
The incident was condemned in Parliament where Civil
Aviation Minister Praful Patel had described the act of
frisking Kalam, who is exempted from security checks, as
"unpardonable" and assured "corrective action".
The Civil Aviation Ministry has ordered a probe into
the incident involving the ground security staff of the
airline which subjected Kalam to the security check.
The airline had Tuesday implied that Kalam was not
exempt from frisking before boarding the aircraft.
In Wednesday's statement, the airline said, it
reiterates its commitment to comply with regulations mandated
by local authorities (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security) as
well as US authorities.
"While ensuring compliance with TSA (of the US) and
BCAS requirements imposed on us, we sometimes encounter
circumstances wherein TSA and BCAS regulations are not
compatible.
"We hope the respective government authorities
resolve these difference at the earliest in order to avoid any
recurrence of this situation in the future," the statement
said.
The airline said it is also formally addressing the
queries raised in the show cause notice issues by BCAS. PTI
