Indigo de-boards doctor after he complains of mosquitoes; he plans legal recourse

MUMBAI: A doctor has accused Indigo staff of manhandling and de-boarding him from a Lucknow-bengaluru flight after he complained of mosquitoes onboard.

Saurabh Rai, a cardiologist, said that he would take “legal recourse” soon against the airline as well as lodge a complaint with the civil aviation ministry, aviation regulator DGCA and Prime Minister’s Office.

The airline claimed however that Rai was offloaded at Lucknow for unruly behaviour. It alleged that he even attempted to instigate other passengers to damage the aircraft.

This is at least the second incident in six months of an untoward incident involving Indigo staff. Last November, a video had surfaced of the airline staff allegedly manhandling a passenger on the tarmac in the national capital.

Recalling the incident, which happened on Monday, Rai said that as the cabin was full of mosquitoes, he repeatedly asked the airline staff if something can be done to remove them, but the requests were not entertained.

After the aircraft door was shut, he asked whether the crew members can arrange some mosquito repellent, but there was no response. After a few minutes, airline personnel rushed towards his seat and caught him by his collar before dragging him to the ramp, Rai claimed.

“After that they deboarded me... then they told me that I could fly only if I tender an apology,” he said over the telephone, adding that in the process the flight was also delayed.

According to him, the plane took off without him as he refused to tender an apology as demanded by the airline.

Responding to queries on Twitter, the airline said that Rai was offloaded from 6E541 for unruly behaviour.

Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu on Tuesday ordered an enquiry into the matter.

“I have ordered an enquiry into the incident of off-loading passenger Dr Saurabh Rai by Indigo at Lucknow Airport,” Prabhu said in a tweet.