The IndiGo flight (6E-2175) from Delhi to Goa encountered a delay of several hours due to the presence of fog, as reported in the fog alert.
New Delhi: An IndiGo flight experienced a disturbing incident when a passenger physically assaulted the pilot while he was addressing the passengers about the delays. The video capturing the assault has now gone viral on social media.
This incident occurred on the IndiGo flight (6E-2175) from Delhi to Goa, which was delayed for several hours on Sunday due to fog. The passenger involved in the assault has been identified as Sahil Kataria. The pilot has lodged a complaint against him, and the airline is currently in the process of filing an official case.
In the viral video, a man wearing a yellow hoodie suddenly rushed from the back row and struck Anup Kumar, the flight’s co-captain. Kumar had taken over from the previous crew member due to Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) regulations after the prolonged delay. FDTL regulations are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of pilots and flight attendants by enforcing sufficient rest periods and addressing concerns related to fatigue. The responsibility for establishing FDTL lies with the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Immediately after the incident, the passenger was swiftly removed from the aircraft and handed over to the authorities.
One user on X expressed their opinion, stating that the pilot or cabin crew should not be blamed for the delay as they were simply doing their job. They suggested that the man responsible for the incident should be arrested and put on the no-fly list, with his picture being published to make people aware of his behavior. Another user emphasized that the person should not only be put on the no-fly list but also booked for assault. They acknowledged the negative attention that IndiGo6E has been receiving lately and called for the airline to be held accountable for its shortcomings.
The incident occurred amidst significant disruptions at the Delhi airport, with 110 flights experiencing delays and 79 flights being cancelled today, according to the flight tracker website flightradar24. The average delay reached 50 minutes, further adding to the frustration of passengers who were already dealing with extensive flight disruptions.
Yesterday, the Delhi airport faced severe delays for several flights due to adverse weather conditions, including dense fog, in North India. Some flights experienced delays exceeding seven or eight hours. Major airlines like IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Vistara have cautioned that the ongoing bad weather conditions in Delhi and Kolkata could continue to impact flight schedules.