A passenger on an IndiGo flight 6E138 from Mumbai to Kolkata slapped a fellow traveler on Friday, prompting intervention from the cabin crew and outrage on social media. The incident occurred on the aircraft aisle, and the perpetrator was handed over to the security team upon landing at Kolkata airport. The airline has declared the passenger "unruly".
A video circulating on social media shows the seated passenger striking the other. The victim, who was standing in the aisle, began crying and was moved away from the spot. In the video, a cabin crew member can be heard telling the passenger on the seat "don't do" while another passenger questions the attacker's behavior, asserting that he does not have the right to hit anyone. Reportedly, the person who was hit was having a panic attack.
The exact circumstances leading up to the altercation remain unclear, including whether the incident happened before takeoff or mid-air. The number of passengers onboard the aircraft was not immediately available. IndiGo has not yet released an official statement beyond confirming that disciplinary action was taken. The airline is expected to submit a report on the incident to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Under Indian aviation rules, a passenger declared unruly can face temporary or permanent bans from flying, depending on the severity of the misconduct.
The incident has sparked condemnation online, with many questioning the attacker's decision to resort to violence against someone seemingly in a vulnerable state. This event adds to a growing list of passenger altercations on flights, raising concerns about inflight behavior and safety. In similar incidents, passengers have been removed from flights and faced charges for disruptive behavior, including physical altercations.