Indian Army Officer Banned from Flying for 5 Years After Assaulting SpiceJet Staff
A Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army has been barred from flying with SpiceJet for five years following an alleged assault on the airline’s staff at Srinagar airport on July 26, officials reported on Tuesday.
The decision follows a viral video depicting the officer hitting SpiceJet employees with a queue stand. The incident, which unfolded at the boarding gate of flight SG 386 from Srinagar to Delhi, was reportedly triggered by a dispute over excess baggage fees.
SpiceJet stated that the officer was transporting two cabin bags weighing a total of 16 kg, exceeding the allowed limit of 7 kg. When he did not adhere to boarding protocols, he reportedly accessed the aerobridge without permission and was subsequently escorted back by CISF personnel. At the gate, he allegedly became violent, assaulting four staff members, one of whom suffered a spinal fracture and injuries to the jaw.
Ban Under Civil Aviation Rules
The five-year flying ban was advised by an internal committee assembled under the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), consisting of two retired judges and a representative from another airline.
According to aviation regulations, passengers can face varying bans based on their actions:
| Type of Unruliness | Duration of Ban |
|---|---|
| Verbal unruliness | 3 months |
| Physical unruliness | 6 months |
| Life-threatening behavior | Minimum of 2 years |
The committee classified the officer’s conduct as “life-threatening,” warranting a five-year prohibition.
Legal Proceedings
An FIR was filed against the officer, who is stationed in Kashmir, under Section 115 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). SpiceJet referred to the incident as a “murderous assault” in its report to the civil aviation ministry.
The Indian Army had previously expressed its commitment to maintaining accountability following the incident's exposure.
Wider Trend of Unruly Passengers
Data presented to the Rajya Sabha on August 5 shows that 379 passengers have been placed on India’s no-fly list over the past five years, with 2023 recording the highest number of bans at 110.
SpiceJet has yet to release an official statement in response to the committee's recent decision.
