A serious incident unfolded at the Srinagar airport on Friday when a senior Army officer allegedly assaulted four SpiceJet ground staff members after being asked to pay for excess cabin baggage. The violent episode occurred at the boarding gate of flight SG-386 bound for Delhi, leaving multiple employees hospitalized with grievous injuries.
According to a statement by a SpiceJet spokesperson, the officer was carrying 16 kilograms of cabin baggage—more than double the permissible limit of 7 kilograms. When politely informed about the excess and asked to pay the additional charges, the passenger reportedly refused and attempted to forcibly enter the aerobridge without completing the boarding process, in violation of aviation security protocols.
He was escorted back to the boarding gate by a CISF official. However, upon returning, the situation escalated rapidly. The officer allegedly began physically assaulting four SpiceJet employees using punches, kicks, and even a queue stand. One staff member collapsed unconscious after repeated blows, but the passenger continued to assault him. Another employee, who bent down to assist the unconscious colleague, received a forceful kick to the jaw and suffered bleeding from the nose and mouth.
The injured staff were immediately taken to a hospital and are currently under medical treatment. One suffered a spinal fracture, while others sustained jaw and facial injuries.
SpiceJet has filed an FIR with local police and has written to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, urging strict action against the officer. The airline has also initiated procedures to place the individual on India’s no-fly list, in accordance with civil aviation norms. CCTV footage of the incident has been retrieved from airport authorities and handed over to the police as part of the ongoing investigation.
