NEW DELHI: A SpiceJet passenger has accused an Air India Express pilot of physically assaulting him during a dispute at Indira Gandhi International Airport’s Terminal 1. The airline has acknowledged the incident and said the employee has been removed from duty pending an inquiry.
The passenger, Ankit Dewan, said the incident occurred while he was travelling with his family, including a four-month-old infant in a stroller. According to Dewan, airport staff guided his family to use the staff and PRM security check due to the presence of the baby.
In a post on social media platform X, Dewan alleged that several staff members began cutting the queue ahead of him. When he objected, he claimed a pilot, identified as Captain Virender, questioned his literacy and told him the entry was meant only for staff.
The situation soon escalated into a verbal altercation, following which Dewan alleged that the pilot physically assaulted him, leaving him injured and bleeding. He further claimed that the incident traumatised his family and ruined their planned holiday, particularly affecting his infant daughter who witnessed the episode.
Responding to the allegations, Air India Express said it deeply regretted the incident involving one of its employees, who was travelling as a passenger on another airline at the time.
“We profoundly regret this incident at Delhi Airport and strongly condemn such behaviour. The concerned employee has been removed from official duties with immediate effect, and appropriate action will be taken pending a thorough investigation,” the airline said in a statement, adding that it would fully cooperate with law enforcement authorities.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation also took serious note of the matter and directed Air India Express to ground the accused pilot with immediate effect. The ministry said a formal inquiry has been ordered, and detailed reports have been sought from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
Further investigation into the incident is underway.
