Air India has received a show-cause notice from the Ministry of Civil Aviation after three Italian nationals allegedly left India without completing mandatory immigration checks at Delhi airport. The passengers arrived from Amritsar on Air India flight AI-1115 in the early hours of September 4, 2026. They later boarded a Lufthansa flight to Munich without going through the required departure immigration process. The ministry has asked Air India to explain the serious procedural lapse and has given the airline seven days to respond.Why Did Passengers Skip Immigration?The incident involved Air India’s hub-and-spoke transfer process, under which passengers travelling from smaller airports connect through Delhi for international flights. According to the ministry’s notice, the passengers had domestic boarding passes for their Amritsar-Delhi journey but were allegedly directed into the international-to-international transfer route at Delhi. This allowed them to reach the international departure area without completing the mandatory immigration procedure.The passengers arrived in Delhi from Amritsar on September 4.They later boarded Lufthansa flight LH-763 for Munich.Their mandatory departure immigration clearance was not completed.The ministry questioned the handling of the passengers by Air India and SATS staff.Air India has been given seven days to explain the lapse.How The Immigration Lapse HappenedThe three passengers arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport at around 12:50 am after travelling on Air India flight AI-1115. They had been issued “D” boarding passes for the domestic sector and onward boarding passes for the Lufthansa flight. Under the approved procedure, such passengers were required to leave through the designated route and complete immigration before reaching the international departure area.Instead, the ministry said they were escorted to the International-to-International, or I-to-I, transfer area. That route is intended for passengers already eligible for international transfer, while the three passengers still needed departure immigration clearance. They subsequently reached the international departure area and boarded the Munich-bound flight.Also Read: Delhi Schools Bomb Threat: British School, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya EvacuatedGovernment Questions Air India ProcessThe show-cause notice raises questions about several parts of Air India’s approved hub-and-spoke procedure. The ministry has sought explanations over passenger segregation, the issuance of onward boarding passes at Amritsar and the role of airline and SATS personnel during the transfer. It has also questioned why required passenger reconciliation and other checks did not identify the issue earlier.The ministry has asked Air India to explain why action should not be taken for violating the approved procedures. The airline has seven days to submit its response, after which authorities may consider administrative or regulatory action based on the available records.Key HighlightsThree Italian nationals reportedly bypassed immigration at Delhi airport.They travelled from Amritsar to Delhi on Air India flight AI-1115.The passengers later flew to Munich on Lufthansa flight LH-763.The Ministry of Civil Aviation issued a show-cause notice to Air India.Officials questioned the airline’s passenger-handling and transfer procedures.Air India has seven days to respond to the notice.Air India Faces Immigration QuestionsThe case has highlighted the importance of strict immigration checks during domestic-to-international passenger transfers. The government is examining how the passengers were moved through the airport and why existing safeguards did not prevent the lapse. Delhi International Airport Ltd has separately said it was not served a show-cause notice in the matter.The government’s notice now puts the focus on Air India’s internal procedures, staff responsibilities and compliance with approved transfer rules. The airline’s response will determine the next steps that authorities may take in the case.Disclaimer: This article is intended only for knowledge and news-information purposes. It does not establish wrongdoing or guilt against any individual or organisation.
