SENA MP ASSAULTS AIR INDIA OFFICER
High drama was witnessed on a Pune-Delhi Air India flight after it landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Thursday morning as Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP Ravindra Gaikwad allegedly hit a 60-year-old airline staffer with slippers.
The MP was angry allegedly because Air India changed his seat from business to economy class. “The incident was reported from Air India flight AI 852 (PuneDelhi), in which MP Ravindra Gaikwad was travelling. The flight landed around 10am but the MP refused to de-board. When airline security staff was called, he got angry and started beating them with slippers,” said an airport source.
The staffer has been identified as R Sukumar, a 60-year-old duty manager. “What did he (the AI official) say...Yes, I beat him with a sandal 25 times. Should I tolerate abuses from the media, from the company (Air India) just because I am an MP?” Gaikwad said. “I told him (the official) that I have given a complaint to the airhostess, you should refer to that. I am not going to repeat my complaint to whoever comes to ask about it
. I asked him to call a senior who could resolve the issue but he said no, I will look into it,” the MP from Osmanabad said. “I slapped him...Should I hear abuses from everyone. I am from Shiv Sena, not BJP. I will give my complaint to the Lok Sabha Speaker,” the MP said.
An Air India official said the MP was booked in business class but the airline changed the flight to an all-economy aircraft. The MP’s personal secretary in Delhi was informed about the change of aircraft and offered a cancellation. But the MP reached Pune airport and boarded the plane.
“Duty manager R Sukumar was called and he started convincing him. The MP started shouting at him, snatched his glasses and pushed him to the ground. He fell down and the MP started beating him with slippers. The airport manager saved him,” said an Air India official. Sukumar has filed a complaint.