Army Officer Accused of Brutal Assault on SpiceJet Crew Over Baggage Dispute at Srinagar Airport
Srinagar — A senior Indian Army officer allegedly assaulted four SpiceJet employees at Srinagar Airport during a boarding dispute on Saturday, leaving two of them severely injured—one reportedly with a spinal fracture and another with serious jaw trauma. The violent episode unfolded at the boarding gate of flight SG-386 bound for Delhi and was caught on airport CCTV cameras.
According to SpiceJet, the officer was carrying 16 kilograms of cabin baggage—well over twice the permitted 7 kg limit. When asked to pay excess baggage charges, he allegedly refused, bypassed mandatory checks, and entered the aerobridge without clearance. After being escorted back by a CISF official, the situation escalated.
The airline claims the officer launched into a violent attack using fists, kicks, and even a queue stand as a weapon. One staff member collapsed unconscious after repeated blows; the attacker reportedly continued to assault him on the ground. Another employee, attempting to help his fallen colleague, suffered a brutal kick to the jaw, resulting in severe bleeding.
The injured were rushed to a hospital. SpiceJet confirmed that an FIR has been registered and requested the Ministry of Civil Aviation to place the accused on the national “no-fly list.” The airline said it is pursuing legal and regulatory action to the fullest extent.
Video clips of the assault circulated widely on social media, prompting public outrage. In response, the Indian Army issued a statement affirming its commitment to “the highest standards of discipline” and pledged full cooperation with investigators.
Meanwhile, in a separate aviation-related incident, IndiGo has imposed a flying ban on a passenger who slapped a co-traveler onboard a Mumbai-Kolkata flight the previous day, underscoring growing concerns over unruly passenger behavior in India’s skies.
