TMC MP gets into spat with AI staff
NEW DELHI: An Air India flight from Delhi to Kolkata was delayed by 39 minutes on Friday after a Trinamool Congress MP Dola Sen allegedly triggered a ruckus on board over change of seats.
Sources said the Air India staff had requested Sen, a Rajya Sabha member, to shift her mother from the emergency exit, but the MP refused.
Sen had booked the flight through online portal and claimed that she had paid for the front row.
“But boarding card was issued for the 11th row, which was the emergency exit. Safety regulations do not allow any elderly people on wheel chair to sit next to the emergency exit as it can cause hindrance in case of an emergency. In the booking ticket also it was not mentioned that the passenger would carry a wheelchair,” said an Air India official.
The incident came close on the heels of Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad landing in the eye of the storm after allegedly assaulting an Air India staffer on board.
He was grounded by six airlines, and had to express regret in a letter to the civil aviation minister in the face of fierce criticism. Air India later lifted the flight ban on him following the Centre’s intervention.
“Sen was travelling with two others and the cabin crew told her about the safety regulation. But she refused to change the seat. As the flight was getting delayed, the pilot stepped in and offered a business class seat against the wheel chair-bound seat. But she did not agree and then to avoid delay, the pilot allowed them to sit on the emergency row,” the official added.
The flight got delayed by 39 minutes as the TMC leader wanted a written assurance that no one would blame her for the delay. Sources said that other passengers objected citing the example of Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who had assaulted an Air India manager last month.