Emirates Airlines had to launch an investigation after an Indian-origin businesswoman managed to travel 4200 miles from Manchester city to New Delhi via Dubai on her husband’s passport before the serious security lapse was picked up in India. Geeta Modha, who runs Alankar boutique in Rusholme area of Manchester, left for the airport with husband Dilip’s passport by mistake for a business trip on April 23.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the 55-year-old was able to check-in and board the flight and was waved through a stopover at Dubai on to New Delhi before the error was picked up. As a holder of Overseas Indian Citizenship (OCI) card, Mrs Modha was expected to produce her passport at Delhi immigration and was denied entry to India at that point.
Indian officials made Geeta travel back to Dubai to wait for her own passport, which was flown to her by Emirates. Geeta’s son Sagar, 32, had to take her passport to the airport so Emirates could get it to her.
Frequent flyer and mum of two Geeta reportedly told the newspaper, “It’s scary and worrying that people aren’t checking properly.
“The fact they say they are so strict on security in airports but you can do this in 2018 is terrible.
“At check-in, the staff member even made me move stuff from one bag to another because it was 2kg over - and yet let me travel with the wrong passport.”
She added that the experience had left her concerned that passengers could potentially fly overseas without valid checks. Currently in India she said that if the error had been flagged at check-in she could have asked someone to bring her own passport to the terminal.
She further added: “They only looked at my surname - not at my first name or the picture. If I got through who else could get through?”
He said: “At one point we were looking at flights to see if we had to fly out to her in Dubai.
“I was so worried and stressed for her. I am appalled that in this day and age someone can get to a country as far away as India with the wrong passport.”
Manchester Airport said it is the responsibility of airline staff to ensure passports are checked.
A spokesperson for Emirates reportedly said: "Like all airlines, we work closely with our airport handlers to ensure that all regulations relating to passport checks is taken very seriously. In this instance our usual high standards were not followed and we would like to apologise to Ms Modha.
"The airport handlers ensure that ongoing training is provided to all staff so that they are kept updated with all regulations and security procedures.
"We are currently investigating how this incident occurred and are working closely with them to ensure that all training materials are properly reviewed and full retraining is provided for the staff involved."
