Amid Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad’s violent episode on board Air India flight on Thursday, an association of airlines has decided that Gaikwad will not be allowed on flights.
Indigo, SpiceJet, GoAir and Jet Airways – part of the Federation of Indian Airlines – along with Air India have banned Gaikwad, who remained defiant and refused to apologise.
“We believe that an assault on any one of our employees is an assault on all of us and on ordinary law abiding citizens of our country who work hard to earn a living,” a joint statement read. “We believe that exemplary action should be taken in such incidents to protect employee morale and public safety.”
India’s public carrier, Air India, is also expected to take a series of strict precautions to avoid such incidents in future.
Gaikwad on Thursday admitted creating ruckus in the flight.
“I hit him 25 times with my slipper,” Gaikwad said.
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The member of parliament from Osmanabad in Maharashtra was livid that he had not been given a business class seat on the flight from Pune to Delhi. Except that the plane was all-economy, a fact that had been conveyed to the politician’s office in advance. To ensure VIP treatment, he was seated in the front row.
Air India chief Ashwini Lohani came out in support of the Air India staff and asked the crew members to file a police complaint without approval, as it was a case of direct assault on the aircraft employee.