“Unable to control himself, the AIX pilot went on to physically attack me, resulting in injuries,” claimed the passenger.
A passenger reportedly faced an attack by an off-duty Air India Express pilot at Delhi airport on Friday.
The traveler, Ankit Dewan, mentioned in a post on X that he and his family were directed to utilize the security checkpoint meant for staff (which is also the PRM check) since they had a four-month-old infant in a stroller.
He mentioned that the employees were skipping the line in front of him. “Upon confronting them, Capt. Virender, who was also engaged in the same activity, questioned whether I was anpadh (uneducated) and unable to read the signs indicating that this entry was meant for staff.”
Dewan mentioned in his post that a heated argument occurred.
“Unable to control himself, the AIX pilot went on to physically attack me, resulting in injuries,” he claimed.
He said the incident had left his seven-year-old daughter, who witnessed the “assault”, traumatised. Besides, he said his holiday had been ruined.
He inquired of Air India how it could permit pilots, who couldn’t maintain their composure, to operate its aircraft. “Are they reliable enough to handle the lives of many individuals in the air?” he inquired.
He claimed that he was even “forced to write a letter stating that I will not pursue this matter further… It was either write that letter, or miss my flight and throw the 1.2 lakhs holiday bookings down the drain”.
Air India Express responded by saying that the pilot had been removed from official duties with immediate effect pending an internal investigation.
The Delhi Police said they had not received any formal complaint so far in the matter.
