New Delhi Chaos unfolded aboard an IndiGo flight as a passenger, identified as Sahil Kataraia, physically attacked the pilot during an announcement about delays. The incident, captured in a viral video circulating on social media, took place on flight 6E-2175 from Delhi to Goa, which experienced significant delays due to fog. The initial departure time of 7:40 am was rescheduled to 2:30 pm.
In the viral video, a man sporting a yellow hoodie suddenly rushed from the back rows and assaulted the new pilot, who had taken over after prolonged delays adhering to Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) regulations.
A passenger hit an #IndiGo captain inside the aircraft while the pilot was making an announcement. #IndiGo has filed a complaint against the passenger and the process of filing the case is underway
Delhi Police says "We will take appropriate legal action against the accused" pic.twitter.com/kvrqvDxlCU
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) January 15, 2024
FDTL guidelines, overseen by the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), are designed to ensure the well-being of flight crews by enforcing adequate rest periods and addressing fatigue-related safety concerns.
IndiGo promptly filed a complaint against the unruly passenger, initiating the process of pursuing an official case. Reacting to the video, one user on X demanded the arrest of the assailant and advocated for his inclusion in the no-fly list, emphasizing the need to expose his disruptive behavior to the public.
Amidst this incident, Delhi airport faced significant disruptions, with 110 flights experiencing delays and 79 cancellations on the day.
The average delay reached 50 minutes, compounding the frustration of passengers grappling with extensive flight disruptions. Adverse weather conditions, particularly dense fog in North India, were cited as the primary cause, impacting major airlines like IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Vistara. As these weather challenges persist, the airlines warned of potential further disruptions in flight schedules in Delhi and Kolkata.