National Desk, 15th January: Passengers aboard IndiGo Flight 6E-2175 experienced heightened tensions as the flight faced significant delays due to dense fog conditions. A viral video captured the distressing moment when a passenger, identified as Sahil Kataraia in a yellow hoodie, physically assaulted the pilot while he was making an announcement about the delays.
In the video, the assailant approaches the captain and slaps him on the face. A quick-thinking flight attendant steps in to shield the captain, expressing disbelief at the passenger’s actions. Another individual, wearing a sky blue hoodie, intervenes, pulling the aggressive passenger away as chaos ensues inside the cabin.
The assault occurred after the original crew had been replaced due to Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) regulations, aimed at ensuring the well-being of aviation personnel by enforcing adequate rest periods to prevent fatigue.
Widespread condemnation on social media followed the incident, with calls for strict action against the passenger, including placing him on a no-fly list. An FIR has been registered, and IndiGo has filed a complaint against Kataraia. The aviation security agency has initiated an investigation into the matter.
This incident comes amid a backdrop of numerous complaints against IndiGo for delays and cancellations. Actor Radhika Apte shared her negative experience on Instagram, detailing passengers being locked at the Mumbai airport aerobridge without access to food or restrooms.
Delhi airport faced severe disruptions, with flightradar24 reporting 110 delayed and 79 cancelled flights on the same day, averaging a 50-minute delay. Major airlines, including IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Vistara, issued warnings about ongoing adverse weather conditions affecting flight schedules.
The Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), responsible for establishing FDTL norms, now faces increased scrutiny, sparking a broader conversation about the treatment of airline staff and the impact of operational pressures on both employees and passengers.
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