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an air india express pilot Has been suspended for allegedly attacking passenger during security check at Delhi airport, airline Said on Saturday.
A SpiceJet passenger on Friday alleged that an off-duty Air India Express pilot assaulted him at Delhi airport Terminal 1 after a dispute over cutting the security queue escalated.
The passenger, Ankit Dewan, who was with his wife and two children, said he was “directed to use security check The staff uses it because we had a 4 month old baby in the stroller.
He said that at the security check point he interrogated some staff members who were cutting the queue, after which air india The pilot of the Express (AEX), identified as Captain Virendra Sejwal, allegedly manhandled her before physically assaulting her.
“The staff were cutting the queue ahead of me. On calling them out, Captain Virendra, who was himself doing the same thing, asked me if I was in the queue.” Anpadh (illiterate), and could not read the signs that said this entry was for staff,” the traveler wrote on X.
“A verbal scuffle ensued. Unable to maintain his composure, the AIX pilot physically attacked me, leaving me bleeding. The blood on his shirt in the picture (first comment) is also mine,” Mr Dewan said.
He said his seven-year-old daughter was shocked and scared by the incident, “she had seen her father brutally attacked.”
The passenger also alleged that she was “forced to write a letter saying that I will not pursue the matter further”, adding that her only option was to either abandon her flight and “ruin her 1.2 lakh holiday bookings”.
Mr Dewan also expressed concern over the delay in providing first aid to him by the airport authorities.
“My wife kept requesting first aid. The man arrived there 15 minutes later, but empty handed,” he said in a post on X.
He alleged that the airport police force also did not allow him to reach the medical center from the other side of the security checkpoint.
“After about 45 minutes, a suitcase full of medicines was brought and then I was given first aid,” Mr Diwan said.
“What if someone needs it urgently? Have you ever heard of an emergency responder arriving empty-handed?” The traveler said.
He also alleged that airport authorities did not take “preventive action” to stop the attack.
“Virendra Sejwal continued his verbal argument with me as he was being searched in the security check. There, he told the CISF jawan, ‘I have come from this meat. (I will come back after killing him)”, Mr Diwan said.
Air India Express said in a statement that the employee concerned “has been removed from official duties with immediate effect”, adding that “appropriate action will be taken pending a thorough investigation”.
“We deeply regret the incident that occurred at Delhi airport, involving one of our employees, who was traveling as a passenger on another airline. We express our heartfelt condolences for the inconvenience caused and strongly condemn such behaviour,” the airline company said on Twitter.
India’s aviation ministry responded that it had “taken serious cognizance of the incident and directed the airline to ground the pilot with immediate effect”.
The passenger wrote on Twitter that he hoped Air India Express would “take further steps beyond suspending the pilot”.
Independent AIX has been contacted for comment.