Srinagar, Aug 3 (UNI) A senior Army officer posted in Kashmir allegedly attacked Spicejet staff at Srinagar airport after they asked him to pay for excess cabin baggage.
A Spicejet spokesperson said the incident occurred on July 26 at Srinagar airport and four employees were grievously assaulted by the passenger.
The Army is yet to respond to the allegation.
The Spicejet spokesperson said a passenger assaulted four employees of the Airlinee at the boarding gate of flight SG-386 from Srinagar to Delhi and the staff members suffered a spinal fracture and serious jaw injuries after being attacked with punches, repeated kicks and a queue stand.
“One SpiceJet employee collapsed unconscious on the floor but the passenger continued kicking and hitting the fainted employee. Another staff member suffered bleeding from the nose and mouth after receiving a kick to the jaw while bending down to assist the colleague who had fainted.
“The injured employees were rushed to hospital and remain under treatment for the grievous injuries sustained,” the spokesperson said.
He said the passenger, a senior Army officer, was carrying two pieces of cabin baggage weighing a total of 16 kg, more than double the permitted limit of 7 kg.
“When politely informed of the excess baggage and asked to pay the applicable charges, the passenger refused and forcibly entered the aerobridge without completing the boarding process – a clear violation of aviation security protocol. He was escorted back to the gate by a CISF official,” the spokesperson said.
“At the gate, the passenger grew increasingly aggressive and physically assaulted four members of the SpiceJet ground staff,” the spokesperson added.
The SpiceJet spokesperson said an FIR has been registered with the local police, and the airline has initiated the process to place the passenger on the no-fly list in accordance with civil aviation regulations.
“SpiceJet has written to the Ministry of Civil Aviation appraising them about the murderous assault on its staff and has requested appropriate action against the passenger,” he added.
The airline said that it has secured the CCTV footage of the incident from the airport authorities and handed it over to the police.
SpiceJet said that it would pursue the matter to its fullest legal and regulatory conclusion.
