Air India Chief Summoned by Authorities After Foreigners Bypass Immigration Control

New Delhi — In a significant security lapse that has drawn sharp criticism from the government, the CEO of Air India has been called in for questioning after three foreign nationals allegedly bypassed immigration formalities while boarding a flight.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the incident came to light when authorities discovered that three foreigners had successfully boarded an Air India aircraft without undergoing the standard immigration verification process. The breach was flagged as a "serious lapse" in protocol, raising immediate concerns about the integrity of border control procedures at Indian airports.

The Home Ministry has expressed strong displeasure over the incident, with officials calling it a glaring gap in the country's travel documentation system. A senior government source stated that such lapses could have serious implications for national security and urged thorough investigation.

In response to the gravity of the situation, the Home Ministry has also convened an emergency meeting of senior officials and other stakeholders on Tuesday to review the incident and discuss measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The meeting is expected to examine the entire chain of processes involved in passenger boarding and immigration clearance, particularly focusing on coordination between airlines and immigration authorities.

Immigration checks at Indian international airports are designed to verify passports, visas, and travel documents before passengers are allowed to proceed to departure areas. When a foreign national skips this step, it raises questions about how the breach occurred and whether there were procedural failures at either the airline or airport authority level.

Air India management has yet to issue a detailed statement, but insiders suggest the carrier will be required to present its version of events during inquiries. The incident has also reignited debates about the efficiency of India's digital immigration systems and the effectiveness of manual and automated checks at major airports.