The Politician Who Assaulted Air India Staffer Has Now Been Banned From Flying Anywhere In India

The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), an umbrella organisation representing IndiGo, Jet Airways, SpiceJet and GoAir has barred Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who assaulted an Air India staffer over an argument over seating from flying on any of the carriers.

BCCL/ Representative Image

While Air India, which is not a part of the body confirmed that it has blacklisted the MP ?who bragged about slapping the crew member 25 times, budget carrier IndiGo said they support any such move.

"We will support a no-fly list," IndiGo President and Whole Time Director Aditya Ghosh told PTI

This is the first time in India a passenger has been blacklisted by airlines for unruly behaviour.

Ravindra Gaikwad/ Facebook

"Airlines staffers - cutting across all carriers - are very upset with what Gaikwad did on an Air India plane. He may get violent again. We also fear that other passengers and/or airline/airport staff may return the favour to the MP. In the interest of safety, he may have to be barred from flying," said an airline official.

Meanwhile even after his party disowning him, the MP remains defiant and has refused to apologise for his actions.

He instead said the AI crew member should apologise to him.

Gaikwad, the MP from Osmanabad had come under heavy criticism after he got into a scuffle with a 60-year-old Air India officer on the Delhi-Pune flight after he was not given a business class seat, despite having insisted on boarding an all-economy flight.?

In a video emerged on Thursday, Gaikwad is seen hitting the official after the flight landed at Delhi's Indira Gandhi Airport.

Air India has lodged to FIRs against the Shiv Sena MP in connection with the incident.

In a Facebook post Air India Chairman Ashwani Lohani said the national carrier is taking the incident in all seriousness.

Aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju? said "such regrettable incidents should never happen again".

Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan said she will look into the matter if anyone complaints, as it happened outside the Parliament.