An Army officer has been booked for allegedly assaulting the airport staff of SpiceJet at the Srinagar International Airport.
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The staff was allegedly assaulted after it asked the officer, who was flying out of Srinagar, to pay a fee for extra luggage. The alleged incident took place on July 26.
“A passenger grievously assaulted four SpiceJet employees at the boarding gate of flight SG-386 from Srinagar to Delhi,” said a SpiceJet spokesperson. “Our staff members suffered a spinal fracture and serious jaw injuries after being attacked with punches, repeated kicks and a queue stand. One SpiceJet employee collapsed unconscious on the floor, but the passenger continued kicking and hitting the fainted employee. Another staff member suffered bleeding from the nose and mouth after receiving a forceful kick to the jaw while bending down to assist the colleague who had fainted. The injured employees were rushed to the hospital and remain under treatment for the grievous injuries sustained.”
SpiceJet staff injured in ‘murderous assault’ by Army officer over extra baggage fee
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“The passenger, a senior Army officer, was carrying two pieces of cabin baggage weighing a total of 16 kg, more than double the permitted limit of 7 kg. When politely informed of the excess baggage and asked to pay the applicable charges, the passenger refused and forcefully entered the aerobridge without completing the boarding process – a clear violation of aviation security protocols. He was escorted back to the gate by a CISF official,” the spokesperson said. “At the gate, the passenger grew increasingly aggressive and physically assaulted four members of the SpiceJet ground staff.”
“An FIR has been registered with the local police, and the airline has initiated the process to place the passenger on the no-fly list in accordance with civil aviation regulations. SpiceJet has written to the Ministry of Civil Aviation appraising them about the murderous assault on its staff and has requested appropriate action against the passenger,” the spokesperson said. “The airline has secured the CCTV footage of the incident from the airport authorities and handed it over to the police. SpiceJet strongly condemns any act of violence against its employees and will pursue this matter to its fullest legal and regulatory conclusion.”
Sources said the accused is posted at the Army’s High Altitude Warfare School at Gulmarg.
The police have registered a case against the officer at Budgam police station based on the complaint filed by the airline.
Purported CCTV footage of the incident shows the officer assaulting the airport staff and one of the injured employees being carried away on a stretcher.
