The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a five-year no-fly ban on an Indian Army officer after he allegedly assaulted a SpiceJet ground staff member at Srinagar Airport on July 26, 2025. The incident occurred following a dispute over excess baggage fees for flight SG 386, bound from Srinagar to Delhi.

According to reports, the officer was carrying two cabin bags weighing 16 kg, exceeding the permitted limit of 7 kg. When staff requested payment for the excess baggage, the officer reportedly refused and "forcefully entered the aerobridge without completing the boarding process," violating aviation security protocols. CISF personnel escorted him back to the gate, where the situation escalated. The officer allegedly "grew increasingly aggressive and physically assaulted four members of the SpiceJet ground staff".

SpiceJet reported that its employees suffered severe injuries, including a spinal fracture and serious jaw injuries, due to the assault. One employee reportedly fell unconscious and was further assaulted while on the ground. A video of the incident, which showed the officer striking staff with a queue stand, went viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage.

Following the incident, SpiceJet lodged a formal complaint with the civil aviation ministry, describing the event as a "murderous assault". The airline also filed a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 115 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for "voluntarily causing hurt". The Army has stated that they are taking the allegations seriously and are extending full cooperation to the investigating authorities.

The DGCA's decision to place the officer on the no-fly list was made following a review by an internal committee constituted under the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR). The committee, which included two retired judges and a representative from another airline, recommended the five-year ban, the most severe penalty available under India's no-fly list rules since 2017. As a result, the officer is now prohibited from flying on any SpiceJet domestic or international flights for the next five years. Other airlines may also choose to deny service to the passenger, but they are not obligated to do so.

India's no-fly list regulations categorize unruly passenger behavior into three levels, each with a corresponding ban duration:

• Level 1: Unruly behavior (physical gestures, verbal harassment, unruly inebriation, etc.) - Ban up to 3 months.
• Level 2: Physically abusive behavior (pushing, kicking, slapping, etc.) - Ban up to 6 months.
• Level 3: Life-threatening behavior (damaging aircraft operating systems, physical violence such as choking, murderous assault, etc.) - Minimum ban of 2 years with no upper limit.

The incident involving the Army officer was deemed to fall under the most serious category, leading to the five-year ban. Passengers have the right to appeal a ban within 60 days of the committee's decision.

The no-fly list is maintained by the DGCA based on inputs from airlines. It applies to passenger behavior onboard scheduled and non-scheduled flights. Offenses committed within airport premises fall under the jurisdiction of the relevant security agency. The purpose of the no-fly list is to enhance safety by addressing unruly and disruptive behavior on aircraft.