Srinagar: A routine boarding procedure turned violent at Srinagar Airport on July 26, when a senior Army officer brutally assaulted four SpiceJet ground staff members at the boarding gate of flight SG-386 to Delhi. The altercation stemmed from a dispute over excess cabin baggage, escalating into what the airline has termed a ‘murderous assault.’
According to SpiceJet’s official statement, the passenger was carrying two cabin bags weighing a total of 16 kg, more than twice the permissible limit of 7 kg. When the ground staff politely asked him to pay for the excess baggage, the passenger refused and forcibly entered the aerobridge without completing the required boarding process- a serious breach of aviation security norms.
He was escorted back to the gate by CISF personnel, but the situation deteriorated further.
At the gate, the officer physically assaulted four airline employees.
The injuries include-
- A spinal fracture
- Serious jaw injuries
- One staff member lost consciousness after being hit and repeatedly kicked while on the ground
- Another suffered nose and mouth bleeding after being kicked while trying to help a colleague
All injured personnel were immediately hospitalised and are currently under medical care for grievous injuries.
An FIR has been registered with the local authorities.
SpiceJet has:
- Secured and handed over CCTV footage of the incident to the police
- Written to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA, urging strict action and requesting the passenger be placed on the No-Fly List
- Initiated internal disciplinary procedures to ban the passenger from flying with SpiceJet for at least a month
- The airline is expected to push for more stringent and long-term penalties through aviation regulatory bodies.
SpiceJet has issued a strong condemnation of the incident, calling it an ‘unprovoked and life-threatening assault’. A company spokesperson stated that violence against airline staff will not be tolerated and affirmed that the airline will pursue all legal and regulatory remedies to ensure justice for its injured employees.
This incident highlights a growing concern within India’s aviation sector regarding passenger misconduct and the safety of airline personnel. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is likely to take up the matter for broader review, especially in terms of the enforcement of no-fly lists and disciplinary procedures.
An internal inquiry has been launched by SpiceJet. Meanwhile, sources indicate that standard operating procedures will be strictly followed in barring the passenger from future travel with the airline during the investigation phase.
