A senior Indian Army officer of Lieutenant Colonel rank, who allegedly assaulted SpiceJet staff at Srinagar airport on July 26, has been placed on the airline’s no-fly list for five years, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
The action comes after videos of the incident, showing the officer striking airline staff with a queue stand, went viral earlier this month. The scuffle took place at the boarding gate of flight SG 386 from Srinagar to Delhi, reportedly after a disagreement over excess baggage charges.
According to SpiceJet, the officer was carrying two cabin bags weighing 16 kg—more than double the permissible limit of 7 kg. After refusing to comply with boarding protocols, he allegedly entered the aerobridge without clearance and was escorted back by CISF personnel. At the gate, the officer allegedly grew violent, attacking four staff members, one of whom sustained a spinal fracture and jaw injuries.
Ban Under Civil Aviation Rules
The decision to impose a five-year ban was recommended by an internal committee formed under Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR). The panel comprised two retired judges and a representative from another airline.
Under aviation rules, passengers can face:
- 3 months ban for verbal unruliness,
- 6 months ban for physical unruliness,
- Minimum 2 years ban for life-threatening behavior.
The committee deemed the officer’s actions “life-threatening,” justifying the five-year no-fly penalty.
Legal Proceedings
An FIR under Section 115 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was lodged against the officer, who is posted in Kashmir. SpiceJet, in its communication to the civil aviation ministry, described the episode as a “murderous assault.”
The Indian Army earlier stated it was “fully committed” to ensuring accountability after the incident went public.
Wider Trend of Unruly Passengers
According to government data presented in the Rajya Sabha on August 5, a total of 379 passengers have been placed on India’s no-fly list over the last five years. The highest annual figure was recorded in 2023, with 110 passengers banned.
SpiceJet is yet to issue an official statement following the latest committee decision.
