IndiGo manhandling : Civil Aviation Minister seeks report, Airlines promoter meets him
New Delhi, Nov 8 (IBNS) : Civil Aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju has sought a report from Government agencies on a passenger’s assault by IndiGo airline staffers, media reports said.
The incident occurred on October 15 when a passenger Rajiv Katiyal got himself into a quarrel with few ground staff members, who were later seen to drag and throw Katiyal down on the ground. A video of the incident went viral on Tuesday evening.
The video showed the passenger being stopped from entering a coach, ready to go to the terminal, being pulled back by a ground staff and pinned to the ground.
“The pendulum has swung from one end to the other end,” Raju said on Wednesday, “We need balance... this incident has to be condemned.”
Raju said he was open to suggestions on the subject and welcomed public comments on the airline crew being part of the guidelines.
He said he met IndiGo promoter Rahul Bhatia Wednesday morning.
“Mr Bhatia had also come here in the morning, I told him this type of barbarous thing should not be allowed... he said he will send me a video which will show the whole thing... I have called for a report from government agencies,” he added.
Raju said the said fisticuffs were not acceptable. "It is condemnable. I have asked Directorate General of Civil Aviation to give independent report on incident. A notice will go from Bureau of Civil Aviation Security on why procedures for reporting incidents was not followed as incident happened almost 3 weeks ago. We can't have incidents of this kind," he said. The Minister added that IndiGo promoter has said that he will send the video of the incident.
Montu Kalra, another Indigo employee, shot the entire video of the incident and was later sacked by the airline.
An IndiGo statement quoted Ghosh as saying he had apologised to the passenger.
"I acknowledge the unpleasant experience our passenger went through, while engaging with our staff at Delhi airport. My personal apologies as this does not reflect our culture. I had personally spoken to the passenger and asked for an apology," a statement from IndiGo quoted Ghosh.
The IndiGo President also said the airline had inquired into the incident and action was taken against the staff, he said without specifying was measure was taken.
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