Daijiworld Media Network
New Delhi, Nov 7: A shocking act of violence purportedly showing IndiGo ground staff manhandling a passenger and pinning him to the ground at Delhi airport has gone viral.
The incident took place on October 15 when IndiGo flight 6E 487 flew into Delhi from Chennai. A passenger Rajiv Katiyal who alighted from the plane seemed visibly agitated over the late arrival of the coach which would take the passengers from the tarmac to the terminal. One of the ground staff asks Katyal to refrain from using expletives. However, Katyal is seen telling on video that they should focus on doing a better job rather than moving passengers from one spot to another.
As the passengers start boarding the coach, a ground staff restrains Katyal from boarding over the alleged use of cuss words. Katyal tries to attack a staff member screaming, "How dare you" and a scuffle follows.
Katyal is then dragged and pinned down on the tarmac by the airline staff holding him by his neck on the ground, as the passenger fights back, swinging his arms wildly.
The video was shot by IndiGo employee, Montu Kalra, who was at the site and tried to intervene and shot a video of his colleagues manhandling the passenger.
However, instead of firing the employees involved in the violence, the airline supposedly fired Kalra who shot the video.
On Tuesday, Kalra's video became public, which forced the airline apologize to the passenger, 22 days after the incident.
"Incident probed by designated committee. Took action against staff who was main culprit, by immediately terminating his employment," said the statement issued by the airline.
IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh said he had called up the passenger too and apologized. In a statement, he said, "I acknowledge the unpleasant experience our passenger went through, while engaging with our staff at Delhi airport. My personal apology as this does not reflect our culture. I had personally spoken to the passenger and asked for an apology. At IndiGo, dignity of our passengers and staff is of utmost importance. Any act that compromises the dignity of either is of a serious concern to us. Under the code of conduct violation, this incident was investigated and stern action was taken against the staff. Once again my personal and sincere apologies to the affected passenger."
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha spoke to IndiGo founder Rahul Bhatia and has sought a detailed report on this issue. He said that once an FIR is filed by the passenger, the guilty employees will lose their security clearance for airport passes and will not be able to work in the aviation industry.
Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said he has asked for a report from the civil aviation watchdog, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, or DGCA.
"Violence of any sort is deplorable and should result in criminal action," the minister said.