In a shocking incident, a passenger onboard an IndiGo flight (6E-2175) from Delhi to Goa physically assaulted the aircraft’s co-captain while he was addressing passengers about delays caused by heavy fog. The assailant, identified as Sahil Kataria, was promptly arrested and later released on bail.
The viral video captured the moment when a man in a yellow hoodie rushed from the last row and struck Anup Kumar, the flight’s co-captain. The delay was attributed to fog, a common occurrence during the winter season, prompting adjustments to the flight crew due to Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) regulations aimed at ensuring the well-being of pilots and crew members.
FDTL regulations, overseen by the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), mandate adequate rest periods for flight crews, mitigating fatigue-related safety concerns. Following the assault, the disruptive passenger was swiftly removed from the plane and handed over to authorities.
Outraged social media users condemned the assault, emphasizing that the pilot and cabin crew were merely doing their job, unrelated to the delays caused by weather conditions. Calls for the assailant to be placed on the no-fly list and face legal consequences echoed across online platforms.
The incident unfolded amidst widespread disruptions at the Delhi airport, where adverse weather conditions, including dense fog, led to significant delays and cancellations. As many as 110 flights experienced delays, with 79 flights canceled on the day of the assault. Flight tracker website flightradar24 reported an average delay of 50 minutes, exacerbating the frustrations of already inconvenienced passengers.
Airlines such as IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Vistara issued warnings about ongoing adverse weather conditions in Delhi and Kolkata, signaling potential further impacts on flight schedules. While addressing airline shortcomings, social media users stressed the unacceptability of the passenger’s behavior and called for strict action against such incidents in the future.
Sources By Agencies