A video from an Air India flight has triggered a heated online debate over passenger rights and airline authority. The clip, shared on X (formerly Twitter), shows a flyer arguing with cabin crew after
being told his pre-booked non-vegetarian meal was unavailable. What began as a food-related complaint soon turned into a larger discussion about dignity, treatment of passengers, and how airlines handle complaints raised onboard.
The post was shared by a woman on X along with a video, drawing widespread attention and mixed reactions.
Passenger Denied Pre-Booked Meal on Air India Flight
The woman introduced the video by writing, “Sharing a deeply disturbing incident involving Abhishek Chaudhary on an Air India flight that raises serious questions about passenger rights and abuse of authority.”
She explained that the incident happened on January 19, 2026, when Abhishek was travelling on Air India flight AI2335 from Bangkok to Delhi. He was seated in 29C and had pre-booked and paid for a non-vegetarian meal, which she said was confirmed in advance as per airline policy.
According to the post, when the meal trolley reached the last rows, Abhishek was told that the non-veg meal was “over.” The woman claimed there was no apology, no system check, and no effort to fix the issue. She wrote that a simple request turned into an argument, with the passenger being made to feel at fault for asking for what he had already paid for.
Claims Of Rude Behaviour By Cabin Crew
The post also mentioned that a foreign passenger seated next to Abhishek, who had also pre-booked a meal, faced similar treatment. The woman alleged that instead of calmly verifying the bookings, a senior crew member spoke in a rude and accusatory manner and demanded proof as if the passengers were lying.
“This incident was never about food alone. It was about dignity, respect, and how paying passengers are treated when they assert their rights,” she wrote.
Allegations After The Flight Landed
The situation is said to have escalated after Abhishek said he would file a complaint and speak about the incident on social media. The woman in her post claimed that he was detained on the aircraft after landing, his phone was taken away, and he was pressured to write that he would not post online.
She further alleged that he was handed a “Code of Conduct Warning Letter” signed by the pilot, even though he did not abuse, threaten, or endanger anyone. “His only ‘offence’ was asking for his confirmed meal and respectful treatment,” the post stated.
The post concluded by saying, “Using a Code of Conduct warning against a legitimate complainant sets a dangerous precedent,” and tagged the official page of Air India, the Official Account of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) India and the Official Account of Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India.
Check the now-viral post here:
Sharing a deeply disturbing incident involving Abhishek Chaudhary on an Air India flight that raises serious questions about passenger rights and abuse of authority.
On 19 January 2026, Abhishek was travelling on Air India AI2335 from Bangkok to Delhi, seat 29C. He had… pic.twitter.com/lsXifDlp2F
— ruchi kokcha (@ruchikokcha) January 22, 2026
Strong Reactions From Social Media Users
Within hours, the video crossed one lakh views and triggered a flood of reactions online. A user shared a personal experience and wrote, “It’s Air India bhai! Why do you have any expectations!!! They didn’t provide pre booked wheelchair to my 89 yrs old mother at Delhi airport upon landing and asked her to walk to the arrival area.”
Others pushed back, calling the outrage unnecessary. A long comment read, “You didn’t lose oxygen, you didn’t lose a seat, you didn’t lose your life, you lost a meal option. Big difference.”
Another user questioned the airline’s response and said, “Er, no. Why did the airline staff forcibly snatch his phone and go through it? If they had a problem – should have called CISF. Support the passenger here. If he has prepaid for a meal, he should get it.”
Some felt the situation was blown out of proportion. A person commented, “Much overreaction. These things happen and prebooked meals run out as someone ahead changed their preferences. I don’t know how the passenger addressed the situation and the crew. People need to move on and not make videos while the flight is in operation; they can do it after landing.”
Another strongly worded response stated, “Bro, this wasn’t a human rights violation, this was a chicken curry not showing up,” adding that cabin crew are not restaurant staff and that safety is their main duty.
Meanwhile, an individual remarked, “What’s the problem? Non-veg eating humans can always eat veg, I have been served non-veg on many flights abroad despite being veg, stop outraging over every small isolated incident and have some gratitude for the staff serving.”
