SpiceJet has accused a senior Army officer of violently assaulting its ground staff at Srinagar airport last week after an argument over excess cabin baggage. The incident left two employees seriously injured, with one suffering a spinal fracture and the other severe jaw injuries.
The officer involved in the incident has been identified by sources as Lieutenant Colonel Ritesh Kumar Singh, who is currently posted in Gulmarg.
According to a SpiceJet spokesperson, the officer was carrying two cabin bags weighing a total of 16 kilograms — more than double the allowed limit of 7 kilograms. When staff politely informed him about the excess and asked him to pay the required fee, he refused and forced his way through the aerobridge without completing the boarding process. A CISF official stopped him and brought him back to the gate.
At that point, SpiceJet said, the officer became aggressive and physically attacked four of their ground staff.
“One of our staff members was punched so hard that he collapsed unconscious, yet the passenger continued to kick and hit him,” the airline spokesperson said. “Another staffer, who bent down to help the unconscious colleague, was forcefully kicked in the face and started bleeding from the nose and mouth. Both were rushed to the hospital with serious injuries.”
The airline confirmed that one employee suffered a spinal fracture while another had jaw injuries. SpiceJet has registered an FIR with the local police and is taking steps to have the officer placed on the no-fly list, as per aviation rules.
SpiceJet has also written to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, demanding action against the officer. The airline says it has secured CCTV footage of the incident and handed it over to the police.
“SpiceJet strongly condemns any act of violence against its employees and will take this matter to its full legal and regulatory conclusion,” the spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, Army officials have acknowledged the incident and confirmed that an internal inquiry has been launched.
