Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Apr 5: Goa AAP president Amit Palekar on Friday took to social media to share a frustrating experience aboard an Air India flight from Delhi to Seoul, alleging that the airline offered him a broken seat and forced him to either fly in it or accept a refund.

In a video posted on X, Palekar said, “I am at the counter (at Delhi airport) and I have been told by the staff that my confirmed seat is unserviceable, it does not recline. I have no choice but to fly because I have connecting flights. Air India is saying either take a refund or fly in this broken seat.”

The AAP leader expressed anger over what he described as a recurring issue. “This is my third time. I didn’t complain earlier. Why is @DGCAIndia allowing @TataCompanies to fly such aircraft? It concerns passenger safety too, as reclined seats sometimes don’t come up,” he wrote on X.

Calling for intervention, Palekar urged Union Civil Aviation minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu to look into the matter.

Responding to his post, Air India issued a statement on X: “Dear Palekar, we hear you and empathize with your experience. We are reviewing your concern on priority. Please allow us some time to get back to you with an update.”

The incident has sparked fresh concerns about passenger safety and aircraft maintenance standards, with social media users echoing Palekar’s concerns.