Senior Indian Army officer, accused of assaulting SpiceJet staff at Srinagar airport on July 26, has been added to the airline’s no-fly list for five years, HT reported.
The ban on the passenger was recommended by a committee formed under the Civil Aviation Rules (CAR), according to the report. Assault Incident The incident took place on July 26 at the boarding gate for flight SG 386 from Srinagar to Delhi, following a dispute over additional baggage charges during boarding.
The altercation reportedly resulted in severe injuries to airline staff, with one employee suffering a spinal fracture.
“One SpiceJet employee collapsed unconscious on the floor, but the passenger continued kicking and hitting the fainted employee. Another staff member suffered bleeding from the nose and mouth after receiving a forceful kick to the jaw while bending down to assist the colleague who had fainted. The injured employees were rushed to the hospital and remain under treatment for the grievous injuries sustained,” the spokesperson said, ANI reported.
Also Read: Video: Army Officer Accused Of ‘Murderous Assault’ On SpiceJet Staff Over Excess Baggage
A SpiceJet spokesperson confirmed that four airline employees were assaulted by a passenger at the boarding gate of flight SG-386. The confrontation allegedly began when the passenger, who was carrying two pieces of cabin baggage weighing a total of 16 kg, was informed that his luggage exceeded the 7 kg limit.
“When politely informed of the excess baggage and asked to pay the applicable charges, the passenger refused and forcefully entered the aerobridge without completing the boarding process – a clear violation of aviation security protocols. He was escorted back to the gate by a CISF official. At the gate, the passenger grew increasingly aggressive and physically assaulted four members of the SpiceJet ground staff,” he added.
FIR Registered
An FIR under Section 115 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was filed against the lieutenant colonel-rank officer stationed in Kashmir. The airline described the attack as a “murderous assault” in its communication to the civil aviation ministry.