Army Officer Assaults SpiceJet Staff Over Luggage Dispute At Srinagar Airport; 4 Seriously Injured
New Delhi / Srinagar –
In a disturbing incident at Srinagar Airport, a serving Army officer allegedly carried out a violent assault on SpiceJet ground staff over an excess cabin luggage dispute, leaving four employees seriously injured, including one with a spinal fracture, the airline confirmed.
The incident occurred on July 26, 2025, at the boarding gate for flight SG-386 from Srinagar to Delhi. According to SpiceJet, the officer attempted to board with two cabin bags weighing 16 kg—more than double the permissible 7 kg limit. When asked to pay the excess baggage fee, the passenger reportedly became irate and attempted to force his way through the aerobridge, bypassing boarding and security protocols.
CISF personnel intervened, escorting the passenger back to the gate. However, the situation escalated rapidly. The officer allegedly launched a brutal attack on the ground crew using punches, kicks, and even a queue stand as a weapon.
“One SpiceJet employee fainted after repeated blows but was still being kicked by the passenger,” the airline said. “Another employee suffered bleeding from the nose and mouth after a powerful kick to the jaw while trying to assist a colleague.”
A viral video of the attack showed the officer repeatedly striking staff members until he was restrained by CISF officials. All injured employees were rushed to hospital and are receiving treatment for grievous injuries.
SpiceJet has:
- Filed an FIR with local police
- Submitted CCTV footage of the incident
- Informed the Civil Aviation Ministry
- Initiated the process of placing the officer on the no-fly list
“SpiceJet strongly condemns any act of violence against its employees and will pursue this matter to its fullest legal and regulatory conclusion,” the airline stated.
The Indian Army has acknowledged the incident and stated it is cooperating fully with the civil investigation. “The Army has taken cognisance of the matter and is looking into it internally while supporting legal procedures,” a source said.
The CISF, responsible for airport security, also released a statement:
“The situation was promptly managed, and flight operations remained unaffected. Appropriate action has been taken.”
According to the DGCA’s civil aviation regulations, the incident may fall under:
- Level 2 offence (physical abuse) – punishable with up to 6 months flying ban
- Level 3 offence (life-threatening behavior) – punishable with 2 years or more, or permanent ban
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
