Army Officer Declared 'Unruly', Placed On Spicejet No-Fly List For Assaulting Airline Staff At Srinagar Airport: Report

(MENAFN- Live Mint) A senior Indian Army officer accused of physically assaulting SpiceJet employees at Srinagar airport has been placed on the airline's no-fly list for five years, Hindustan Times reported on Tuesday, 26 August. SpiceJet has also termed the Indian Army officer as 'unruly', the news report said.

What led to the confrontation at Srinagar airport?

The altercation took place on 26 July when Lieutenant Colonel RK Singh, currently posted at the Army's High Altitude Warfare School in Gulmarg , was scheduled to board a SpiceJet flight to Delhi.

SpiceJet said 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 statement said.

At the gate, the airline said the passenger grew increasingly aggressive.

When SpiceJet staff at the boarding gate asked him to pay the mandatory excess baggage fee, the Indian Army officer allegedly refused, attempted to bypass the process, and was escorted back by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel. It was at this point, witnesses said, that the situation escalated into violence.

What injuries of SpiceJet Staff were reported?

SpiceJet had earlier stated that four staff members were attacked at the Srinagar airport, with one sustaining a spinal fracture and another suffering severe jaw injuries.

According to SpiceJet, one employee fell unconscious on the floor, but the passenger continued kicking and hitting the victim.

"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," it added.

The incident was caught on camera, and the video has since gone viral on social media, fuelling outrage.

What action has been taken against the officer?

Authorities at the Srinagar International Airport confirmed that a case has been registered under Section 115 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with voluntarily causing hurt.

The officer has also lodged a counter-complaint alleging assault by the airline staff, leading to a cross-FIR.

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, a statement by SpiceJet said.

SpiceJet said it has also written to the civil aviation ministry, apprising them about the "murderous assault" on its staff and has requested appropriate action against the passenger.

The airline also said that it has secured the CCTV footage of the incident from the airport authorities and handed it over to the police.

Meanwhile, SpiceJet convened a committee under the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) framework, which classified the passenger as“unruly”. This decision has resulted in a five-year ban from flying with the carrier on both domestic and international routes, reported Hindustan Times.

How has the Indian Army responded?

Army officials said the issue has come to the notice of the Indian Army, and "we are awaiting the conclusion of the pending investigation".

"The matter involving an alleged altercation between an army personnel and airline staff at Srinagar Airport on 26 July 2025 has come to the notice of the Indian Army. The Indian Army is committed to uphold the highest standards of discipline and conduct and takes all allegations seriously. Full cooperation is being extended to the authorities in investigating the case," PRO (Defence), Srinagar, said in the statement.

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