A shocking incident of violence took place on board an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Goa on Sunday, January 14, 2024, when a passenger assaulted the co-pilot of the aircraft over a long delay in departure. The passenger, identified as Sahil Kataria, reportedly ran up to the cockpit and punched the co-pilot, Anup Kumar, in the face while he was making an announcement about the delay. The flight had already been delayed for several hours due to foggy conditions in Delhi, and the co-pilot had replaced the previous crew who had crossed the flight duty time limitations (FDTL) norms.
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IndiGo passenger assaults the pilot of a Goa-bound flight when he was announcing a delay due to thick fog at Delhi Airport. pic.twitter.com/wTo0YoKCRw
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A video of the incident, which has gone viral on social media, shows Kataria in a yellow hoodie hitting the co-pilot and then being restrained by other passengers and crew members. The co-pilot can be heard saying "No sorry, you raised hands on me" as Kataria apologizes with folded hands. IndiGo filed a complaint against Kataria and handed him over to the local law enforcement agencies for further action. The airline also said that the incident will be referred to the independent internal committee for appropriate action and inclusion of the passenger on the 'no-fly list' as laid down in regulatory guidelines.
According to a fellow passenger who witnessed the incident, Kataria's action came after the co-pilot blamed the passengers for the delay and said that because they were asking too many questions, they missed the line and would have to wait for their next turn. The passenger said that the co-pilot was at fault for blaming the passengers for the delay. However, IndiGo said that the co-pilot was attacked while he was making the delay announcement and that the airline follows all the safety and security protocols as per the regulations.
The incident has raised questions about the safety and security of the pilots and crew members who have to deal with unruly passengers and adverse weather conditions. It has also highlighted the need for better communication and coordination between the airlines and the passengers in case of flight delays or cancellations.