A senior Indian Army officer has been booked for allegedly assaulting four airport employees at Srinagar Airport after being asked to pay an excess baggage fee, Indian media reported on Sunday.
According to an Indian media news outlet, the incident took place on July 26 when the officer, identified as a lieutenant colonel, was flying from Srinagar to Delhi and became aggressive after staff flagged his cabin baggage for exceeding the weight limit. The officer was reportedly carrying two bags weighing 16 kilograms — over twice the permissible 7kg.
When SpiceJet staff requested him to pay the fee, the officer allegedly refused and attempted to board the aerobridge without completing the process. A CISF official escorted him back, but the situation quickly escalated.
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The airline spokesperson claimed the officer punched, kicked and even used a queue stand to attack the ground staff. One employee collapsed unconscious but was continuously assaulted by the passenger. Another staffer sustained a severe jaw injury and began bleeding from the nose and mouth.
SpiceJet confirmed that its injured employees are receiving hospital treatment and that the matter has been formally reported to the police with a First Information Report (FIR) registered at Budgam police station.
The Indian Army acknowledged the incident and said in a statement: "The matter involving an alleged altercation between an Army personnel and airline staff at Srinagar Airport has come to the notice of the Indian Army. We are committed to the highest standards of discipline and are fully cooperating with the authorities."
SpiceJet said it has initiated the process to place the officer on the no-fly list and has written to India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation seeking strict action. CCTV footage of the incident has also been handed over to the police.
