Tardy flyer slaps Air India staffer, gets slapped back
After IndiGo received negative publicity for a staffer's misbehavior with a passenger, national carrier Air India (AI) is at the center of a similar controversy. A woman passenger slapped an AI staffer at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi after she wasn't allowed to board for being late. Not one to take things lying down, the AI staffer slapped her back. Here's more!
How did the incident unfold?
The passenger, reportedly a bureaucrat's wife had booked an Ahmedabad-bound flight. For a 5am flight, she arrived at 4.18am. As per airline rules, she wasn't allowed to board. After arguments with the staff, she was directed to the duty manager. Tempers flared and the slapping saga followed. Later, the passenger approached the police. Afterwards, the ladies apologized to each other, resolving the issue amicably.
Steps against menace of unruly passengers
Domestic airlines witnessed 53 cases of unruly passenger behavior between July'16 and March'17, including Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad assaulting an AI staffer. This prompted the aviation ministry to release a "No Fly List" in September. Passengers can be banned from flying for two months to three years, depending on their crimes' severity. The ministry might now want to address the issue of staffers' misbehavior.
