Chennai: The quality of the false ceiling at the new terminal of the Chennai domestic airport, put up as part of a multi-crore-rupee modernisation scheme, came under the scanner after a rucksack that slipped from the conveyor belt created a gaping hole in the ceiling on Wednesday. Airport authorities have initiated an enquiry into the incident and have passed the buck on to the airline management for overloading the conveyor belt, which was the cause of the incident, according to them.

The staff of Indigo Airlines were co-ordinating the passenger luggage at 6.20 am for their Chennai-New Delhi flight from the departure area on the second floor of the terminal. After being scanned, the luggage is put on a conveyor belt, leading to the ground floor. A backpack, weighing more than 30 kg, which was passing through the belts, slipped out. “The bag was heavy and after it slipped from the belt it came crashing down on to the false ceiling, 20 feet below the belt. In the impact, the ceiling gave way and the rucksack fell to the floor of a room on the first floor,” an airport official said.

The room was used as a resting area for the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, but luckily, no one was present when the bag fell. Frequent flyers expressed their displeasure over the facilities and infrastructure gaffes that have become the norm at the newly constructed terminals. “I was at the airport to catch my flight to Mumbai when I heard the loud thud. Thankfully, the bag fell in an unoccupied room. Imagine if someone had been resting or working there,” said H. Sridhar of Adambakkam.

Meanwhile, the airport authorities laid blame on the Indigo Airlines staff for overloading the belt with baggage, which led to the fall. “We will be writing to them seeking an explanation and the airline will be held accountable for restoring the damaged areas,” the official added. As for the floor being weak enough for a bag to break through it, the official said, “There is no compromise on the safety of passengers here nor staff for they don't use these areas, it's only meant for conveyor belts,” the official said.