Days after a verbal spat broke out between an Air India pilot and a passenger at the Delhi airport, a factual report has been submitted by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to the Ministry of
Civil Aviation.
According to sources, the incident began as a verbal altercation between the pilot and the passenger, which continued for several minutes. CISF personnel on duty intervened only after the situation turned violent.
The incident took place a few days ago when a SpiceJet passenger accused the pilot of physically assaulting him when he objected to the pilot cutting the boarding queue.
Taking to X, Ankit Dewan posted his picture with blood on his face and said that he and his family, including his four-month-old daughter, were directed to use the staff security check-in line as they were travelling with a baby in a stroller.
“The staff was cutting the queue ahead of me. On calling them out, Capt. Virender, who himself was doing the same thing, asked me if I was anpadh (uneducated) and couldn’t read the signs that said this entry was for staff,” Dewan said, adding a verbal altercation followed.
Notably, allowing stroller-bound or wheelchair passengers to pass through staff gates during peak rush hours is an accepted and routine practice at airports, followed to ease congestion and assist families with special needs.
According to the sources, the pilot involved was not on duty and was travelling as a regular passenger. The report found it inappropriate for him to use his pilot uniform or identity card to move ahead in the passenger line, which contributed to the confrontation.
Addressing claims that the passenger was forced to sign an undertaking stating he would not file a complaint, sources said no such coercion took place. By the time police arrived and formal complaint procedures could begin, the passenger and his family were at risk of missing their flight. The situation was explained to them, and the family chose to prioritise boarding the flight over pursuing immediate legal formalities.
The findings have been shared with the civil aviation ministry, which is examining the reports submitted by CISF and BCAS.
