Indigo Pilot Assault case: A passenger assaulted an Indigo pilot on board a flight from Delhi to Goa, sparking outrage on social media.
IndiGo flight 6E 2175 from Delhi to Goa witnessed a shocking incident on Sunday, January 14th, when a passenger allegedly slapped the copilot, Anup Kumar, as he announced a flight delay due to fog. The incident has sparked outrage and ignited a conversation about unruly passenger behavior.
The passenger could face a ban from flying and criminal charges.
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Viral Video Shows Indigo Pilot Assault
A video circulating online captures the disturbing scene. It shows a passenger, later identified as Sahil Katariya, wearing a yellow jacket, storming towards the cockpit as the announcement begins. He then punches Anup Kumar in the face before being restrained by a flight attendant and another passenger.
Legal Action Taken
IndiGo promptly filed a complaint with the Delhi police, and Anup Kumar himself submitted a formal report at the police station. Based on the complaint, an FIR has been registered under sections 323, 341, and 290 of the IPC, and 22 of the aircraft rules. An investigation is currently underway.
Government Regulations on Unruly Passengers
Government guidelines issued in 2017 dictate that airlines handle unruly passengers through an internal committee that investigates complaints filed by pilots. This committee can suspend the passenger for up to 30 days during the investigation and issue a final ban based on their findings.
IndiGo Official Statement and Public Outcry
IndiGo has issued an official statement and put the customer on a “no-fly list“, but the incident has generated widespread condemnation online. Many are demanding stricter accountability for unruly passengers and emphasizing the need to prioritize crew safety.
Other Side of Story: Passenger’s account of this Incident
A passenger who witnessed the incident of a man slapping an IndiGo pilot has shared his account of what led to the altercation.
He said that the passengers had arrived at the airport by 06:00 AM and were kept waiting in the terminal area for about 10 hours as IndiGo kept postponing the departure by 1 or 2 hours. Then, they were asked to board the aircraft and were made to sit inside the aircraft for another 2 hours. The passengers were naturally frustrated and started questioning the crew members about the reason and the duration of the delay.
At this point, the pilot came and said, “You guys are asking too many questions.” He accused the passengers of causing the aircraft to miss its turn and said that they would have to wait longer because of them.
Other side of Story pic.twitter.com/MCbKcgVk3g
— Akash (@akashkhosla) January 15, 2024
The passenger said that the pilot’s behavior was unacceptable and that he should have tried to calm the passengers down instead of blaming them.
With input from ANI
