September 19, 2024

It is unfortunate and unacceptable that angry flyers take out their ire on the crew for delays caused by dense fog at airports or for any other reason. For, that is not something in the hands of the crew. Today's incident, aboard an Indigo flight that was delayed by several hours due to not getting clearance from the ATC because of dense fog in Delhi, in which an irate flyer first shouted at the co-pilot and then hit him is extremely objectionable and unpardonable. Flight schedules have been badly hit due to the extreme weather. Although it is true that being cooped up in a plane for hours is not something that anyone would like, it is also true that the crew is just doing their duty and no one has the right to shout at them, let alone hit them.

Flyers have to realize that the crew has no hand in boarding and it, as much as the flyers, does not like to wait after the flight is ready for departure. But there are many airport clearances which come post the boarding operation and if even one of the clearances is not forthcoming, the plane has to keep waiting with passengers on board. For security reasons, the passengers are not allowed to deboard unless the flight is finally cancelled. The flight attendants are there to take care of the discomfort of the flyers by providing water and other things which they have in hand. Hence, it is best for the flyers to cooperate and do not make it an unpleasant experience.

For Sahil Kataria, the person who hit the co-pilot, it is going to be tough times now. Although he apologized to the co-pilot, he has not been pardoned. A police case has been filed and he has been arrested. His short temper is going to land him in further trouble as he might be included in the No-Fly list and will not be able to fly in the future.