The reason 15 Mumbai Airport officials lost their jobs: Coconuts and oil bottles

A surprising twist at Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) has left over 15 senior officials jobless after items like coconuts, bottles of oil, and other security-restricted goods (SRA) ended up costing them their careers, according to a report of the Times of India. Quoting aviation sources, the report claimed that MIAL last month asked more than a dozen middle-management officials to resign after CCTV footage allegedly showed them taking confiscated items for personal use. These goods, which include knives, batteries, toys, chilli, lighters, e-cigarettes, coconuts, and oil, are banned in passenger cabins and are routinely seized by the CISF during security checks.

The resignations, which took place from August 1, affected officials across terminal operations, including senior duty terminal officers, duty terminal managers, deputy managers, and senior executives. Sources said the officials were presented with a stark choice: resign immediately or face termination.

“Confiscated items are either thrown away or handed over to NGOs like the Rescue Foundation. We never had clear instructions that taking them would lead to dismissal,” one former official, who has served MIAL for over a decade, told TOI. “For years, nobody paid attention to coconuts or oil bottles. Now suddenly, we are out without any warning for a first-time action.”


Meanwhile, advocate Ashok Shetty commented that the action raises concerns over due process. “Punishment should match the gravity of the misconduct and the employee’s tenure. Forcing resignations without an inquiry may amount to illegal termination. If there was misconduct, a proper chargesheet and fair hearing should have been conducted,” he said.

Mumbai airport terminals 1 and 2 manage around 1.5 lakh passengers daily. Despite repeated warnings and visual placards about restricted items, passengers continue to arrive with banned goods. Daily logs show a staggering variety of confiscated items, from e-cigarettes, knives, and scissors to coconuts, spices, and even toy guns. On some shifts, the list includes more than two dozen objects, highlighting the ongoing challenge of airport security management.