IndiGo passenger detained for assaulting pilot
A passenger on board a Delhi to Goa flight of IndiGo Airlines was detained for allegedly assaulting the plane's pilot after a purported delay of 13 hours due to foggy conditions on Sunday evening. A video of the incident, which has since gone viral, shows a passenger -- Sahil Kataria -- assaulting co-captain Anup Kumar during an announcement about a flight delay. IndiGo has filed a complaint against Kataria.
Passenger apologises in viral video
Kataria was taken into police custody at Delhi airport. Later in the day, another video of Kataria apologizing purportedly to the pilot with folded hands was doing the rounds of social media. In the new video, the passenger, can he heard saying "sorry sir" to the person who is recording it, while being taken away by the authorities on the tarmac. The pilot has filed a complaint with the police and a case has been registered.
"Unacceptable": Scindia releases statement
In a statement on X, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday said: "Incidences of unruly behaviour amidst this (lengthy flight delays) are unacceptable, and will be dealt with strongly, in line with existing legal provisions. I would like to assure everyone all stakeholders are working around the clock to minimise fog-related impact..." "It is my earnest request to all travellers to bear with during this difficult period."
IndiGo forms panel, to consider putting passenger on 'no-fly list'
On Monday, ANI reported that the airline formed an internal committee to address the matter. Officials said that the committee will specifically discuss putting the accused passenger on the "No Fly List" under the category of unruly behaviour. "We have established an internal committee, and the incident in question has been referred to them. The committee will determine appropriate action against the passenger," a senior IndiGo official said.
The passenger was handed over to Delhi police
Details of the incident and reactions
In the widely-shared video, Kataria is seen running from the back of the plane and striking Kumar, who had replaced the previous crew after several hours of delay due to Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms. Social media users have demanded Kataria's arrest and inclusion on a no-fly list. One user commented, "Publish his picture so people are aware of his bad temper." Another stated that while IndiGo should be held accountable for its shortcomings, Kataria's actions were "totally unacceptable."
Watch: Passenger attacks pilot on IndiGo flight
Flight delays and disruptions at Delhi airport
This incident comes amid significant disruptions at Delhi airport, with 110 flights delayed and 79 flights canceled on Monday, as reported by flightradar24. The average delay reached 50 minutes, adding to passengers' frustration. On Sunday, numerous flights experienced severe delays of over seven or eight hours due to adverse weather conditions in North India. Major airlines such as IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Vistara have cautioned that ongoing poor weather conditions in Delhi and Kolkata could continue to impact flight schedules.
