IndiGo write to Civil Aviation Minister on passenger assault

Budget carrier IndiGo on Wednesday wrote a letter to Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju explaining him the action taken against staffers involved in manhandling of a flyer and said he has personally apologised to the passenger.

"I personally called and apologised to Mr Katyal (customer) 3 weeks ago. I remember telling him that I had seen video and assured him that we will investigate this matter thoroughly," IndiGo President Aditya Ghosh wrote in the letter.

Ghosh said employees were immediately suspended and a probe was conducted by the airlines into the incident.

The airline's president, however, added the their staff was only trying to ensure the safety of the passenger and the brawl erupted due to miscommunication, which could have been avoided.

"The reality is that my colleagues were only trying to act in the best interest of the safety of Mr. Katyal and trying to prevent a potential serious mishap," Ghosh said.

Meanwhile, Raju summoned all stakeholders in the incident earlier in the day.

The incident came to light after a video of an IndiGo staff and a passenger engaging in a brawl at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport surfaced on social media.

The video of the incident, which took place on October 15, shows the duo thrashing and abusing each other. It also shows the airline staff holding the passenger down by the throat.

A passenger namely Rajeev Katiyal, who arrived from Chennai, was waiting for the coach bus when he engaged into an altercation with the IndiGo staff namely Jubi Thomas due to misunderstanding.

The passenger allegedly abused the staff following which they stopped Katiyal from boarding the bus, which was to take him to the terminal.

They then manhandled him and pinned him to the ground by his throat.