In a shocking incident that has stirred widespread concern, a passenger on an IndiGo flight physically assaulted the aircraft’s pilot during an announcement regarding delays. The incident, captured on video and now viral on social media, has prompted an investigation by the aviation security agency and strong condemnation from authorities.
The unsettling episode occurred when a man wearing a yellow hoodie suddenly rushed from the back row and physically attacked the new pilot. The new pilot had taken over duties due to Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms after significant delays in the flight schedule.
The Delhi Police has responded swiftly, vowing to take appropriate legal action against the accused. Government sources revealed that the passenger involved in the assault has been identified as Sahil Kataraia. Meanwhile, IndiGo has lodged a formal complaint against the passenger, and the process of filing a case is underway, the airline sources said.
A case has been registered against the passenger under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint), and 290 (creating public nuisance) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with section 22 of the Aircraft Rules. The authorities have initiated an investigation into the matter.
“The aviation security agency has initiated an investigation regarding the viral video in which a passenger punched the pilot when an IndiGo flight (6E-2175) from Delhi to Goa was delayed due to fog,” stated sources. The assault took place during the pilot’s announcement of the flight delays, around 1 pm on the relevant day. It is still unverified on which flight this incident took place.
In an official statement, the airline reported that Katariya “physically assaulted” the co-pilot, prompting the airline to refer the incident to an independent internal committee for potential inclusion of the passenger in the “no-fly list.” A brief video snippet captured the moment when other crew members raised their voices at him following the attack on the pilot. Another video showed Katariya being escorted out of the aircraft by security personnel, where he offered apologies for his behavior. Subsequently, he was taken to a police station and later placed under arrest.
110 flights delayed at Delhi Airport
Meanwhile, the Delhi airport has been facing extensive disruptions. As many as 110 flights experiencing delays and 79 flights being canceled on the day of the assault. The average delay soared to 50 minutes, intensifying the inconvenience for passengers already grappling with the fallout of widespread flight disruptions.
The challenging circumstances are attributed to adverse weather conditions, primarily dense fog, affecting North India. Yesterday, numerous flights, operated by major airlines such as IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Vistara, encountered severe delays, with some exceeding seven or eight hours. Airlines have issued warnings, indicating that the persisting bad weather conditions in both Delhi and Kolkata could continue to impact flight schedules.
