Originally Posted by
vishalgupta22
I don't think Indigo will or have to do anything to help you here, unless you find something in the agreement about that and then go about it the legal way. I haven't read the agreement but it's also possible they may have something in the argument/terms avoiding any liability in cases like this.
Have you tried reaching out to CISF about the drone?
Powerbanks (any size) are a strict NO NO in hold baggage everywhere and were most likely removed by the security of the country of origin (SL) Drone xould have been removed by security of any of the countries depending on how watchful the person monitoring the baggage scanner was.
Montreal convention applies as it's not a case of lost baggage. Infact, during check in you made a declaration about the contents of your baggage and most likely told the check-in clerk that you don't have any powerbank and batteries in your checked bags. I don't remember a single instance in last 2 years where the check-in clerk didn't ask this question. Even the OLCI has this check on IndiGo website.
During check-in, no member of the airline staff asked me whether I had lithium batteries or power banks in my checked baggage, nor was I instructed to remove them. Naturally, had I been asked to take out the power bank or batteries and place them in my carry-on, I would have done so immediately and without hesitation. In practice, the baggage was accepted for check-in as-is, which means I had no opportunity to adjust anything — and also suggests that the airline did not identify any issue at that stage.
When the baggage was finally delivered to me, it was clear that the lock had been broken and valuable contents were missing — specifically, a DJI Mini 2 drone and a power bank. These items were packed inside the suitcase from the beginning and disappeared while the baggage was under the airline’s custody. This clearly constitutes damage (or theft) of the baggage during handling. According to the
Montreal Convention, the loss of contents is considered damage to checked baggage, for which the airline is liable.
International Flight and the Montreal Convention:
This was an international connecting flight (Colombo – Bangalore – Mauritius), and therefore, it falls under the scope of the Montreal Convention. The convention lays out clear principles regarding airline liability for baggage. In fact, under international law, an airline’s liability for loss or damage to checked baggage on an international journey is near absolute —
unless the passenger can be shown to have been negligent. In this case, there is no indication of any negligence on my part, and therefore, the airline is required to take full responsibility for the damage.
In light of all these facts, it is clear to me that the responsibility lies entirely with IndiGo. The Montreal Convention — which applies in this case — was designed precisely for situations like this, to protect passengers from such losses. It explicitly states that airlines are liable for damage or loss to baggage that was entrusted to them during international carriage. I followed all the necessary rules and guidelines, and the damage (i.e., the loss of my equipment) occurred while the baggage was under IndiGo’s care. Therefore, there is no legal or moral basis to absolve the airline of responsibility in this matter.