Prabhu orders probe into deplaning of passenger by IndiGo

New Delhi: Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu has ordered an inquiry into an incident involving IndiGo offloading a doctor from one of its flights for alleged unruly behaviour after the passenger complained of mosquitoes on-board.

In a detailed statement issued after the minister’s intervention, the airline said that it had probed the matter internally and regretted the incident, which took place on Monday on IndiGo’s Lucknow-to-Bangalore flight. But it asserted that the passenger was deplaned because of his “belligerent” behaviour and in the interest of safety.

It also denied the charge made by the passenger that he was manhandled.

“I have ordered an enquiry into the incident of off-loading passenger Dr Saurabh Rai by Indigo at Lucknow Airport,” Mr. Prabhu tweeted.

A spokesperson of the airline said that they had sent a representation to the ministry on the incident.

Earlier in a series of tweets, IndiGo had said, “Mr. Saurabh Rai was offloaded from 6E541 for unruly behavior. Mr. Rai had initially expressed concerns regarding mosquitoes on board. Before his concerns could be addressed, he became aggressive and used threatening language, including the word hijack.”

“He also attempted to instigate other passengers to damage the aircraft. Keeping in mind safety protocols, as well as the passenger’s unruly behaviour, the pilot-in-command decided to offload Mr. Rai.”

Dr. Rai didn’t respond to phone calls from this correspondent.

He told PTI, “They manhandled me... It is a question of my dignity. I am going to write to the Civil Aviation Minister, Prime Minister’s Office and DGCA. I will also take legal recourse soon,” he said.

IndiGo said in a statement, “IndiGo has carried out a thorough investigation into the matter...We regret the inconvenience caused to passengers onboard the aircraft and to Dr. Saurabh Rai.”

The went on to say that that there was no physical altercation with the passenger and help was sought from the quick response team of the CISF as per protocol.

“In this background of his belligerent behaviour and on the concerns raised by other passengers a decision was taken to deplane Dr. Rai from the aircraft to ensure the safe conduct of the flight,” the airline added.

IndiGo was involved in a controversy in November last year after a video went viral of the airline’s ground staff allegedly assaulting a passenger on the tarmac at the Indira Gandhi International airport.

Months later, a parliamentary panel too pulled up IndiGo for “discourteous and rude” behaviour of its employees towards passengers, adding that it was an “institutional” problem.

The panel had remarked, “IndiGo needs to look inward and find out the reasons for the discourteous attitude and rude and indifferent behaviour of their employees.”