INDIGO Airlines captain got assaulted, punched by an angry passenger over delay
Trending-Viral – A video is viral in Indian social and mainstream media, showing an angry passenger over flight delay by more than 13 hours, punching Indigo Airlines Captain in New Delhi at Indira Gandhi Airport.
As per the reports, Indigo Flight (6E-2175) from Delhi to Goa, was delayed by around 13 hours since Delhi is facing poor visibility due to the dense fog making it very hard for airlines to do ‘business-as-usual’. Viral video can be seen by clicking here. (Credits: X and #IndiaToday)
Action against the unruly passenger
It is learnt that Delhi Police has arrested the passenger named Sahil Kataria, the one who slapped the IndiGo captain. Another video is also surfacing in the social media where Sahil is saying his apology when arrested. Delhi Police is doing necessary investigations in the incident after the report was filed by Indigo airlines staff. Later, the passenger has got the bail. As per the reports, he was going to his honeymoon through this flight.
Viral video shows passenger punching the Indigo Captain
In the viral video, it can be seen that the Airhostess is crying asking passenger that he cannot due such an assault after a passenger (probably sitting in the last seat) slapped the captain Mr. Anup Kumar while he was making an announcement regarding delays. A flight attendant standing beside the captain immediately comes to the rescue of Anup (Indigo Captain) and stands in front of the captain, trying to address the situation. The passenger is then pulled behind by another man when other passengers starts making full of noise.
Anup had replaced as flight captain the previous crew as required based on the limitations due to ‘Flight Duty Time Limitation Norms’. This FDTL norm ensures the well-being of pilots and crew and Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is responsible that the norms are followed.
Indigo Airlines announcements on flight delays
Indigo later published an important announcement regarding this incident for public notice. Indigo has mentioned in its announcement that the incident has been referred to an internal committee which will decide to include the unruly passenger in ‘no-fly-list’ as laid down in regulatory guidelines.
In another announcement shared on X, Indigo shared the cause of delay in flights on 14th Jan 2024 when the incident took place. In other tweets of 14th Jan 2024 at Indigo handle, it can be seen that announcements were shared about delay in flights due to bad-weather. Indigo tweet on 14th Jan 2024.
Another tweet by Indigo shows passengers having refreshments on the runway near to the Indigo flight when it was delay in take-off. Click here to see the video.
Reactions from people about the incident
Based on everyone’s experience while travelling through flight, everyone takes their own position to whatever happens. However, to this incident, Twitter (now X) is mostly flooded by the tweets supporting Indigo Airlines. However, in a number of tweets, debate is ON where some are criticizing the airline for mismanagement, poor communication. Finally, the major reason for supporting Airlines is about passengers safety, delay-reasons beyond control but yes, a good communication between the crew/staff and sitting passengers for hours in the airline can definitely be improved. Also, in case of multiple hours of delay, a good decision or communication to deplane the passengers is something that can improve the gap in understanding and shall help in creating trust and patience on waiting passengers.
Airlines in India are exempt from compensating passengers if delays are due to Air Traffic Control (ATC), security, natural disasters weather or any political issues.
Credits: X, Indigo Twitter handle and Indiatoday.
