&w=3840&q=100)
Jaw broken, spinal fracture: How extra cabin luggage fees led Army officer to ‘murderous assault' against SpiceJet staff
The clash took place during the boarding of SpiceJet flight SG-386 to Delhi. Image: News18
A huge row has erupted over an altercation at Srinagar airport, where a senior Army officer allegedly attacked and severely injured several SpiceJet ground staff on July 26.
The officer was reportedly asked to pay a fee for excess baggage while flying out of Srinagar. That is when the situation is reported to have turned violent.
ALSO READ | SpiceJet flight's window frame comes loose mid-air. How risky is that?
SpiceJet said it has filed a police complaint and also written to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, calling the incident a 'murderous assault' and demanding action.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Meanwhile, the Indian Army released a statement saying that it remains committed to upholding the highest standards of discipline and takes all allegations seriously.
So, what caused the clash? And what has happened since?
Let's break down the story:
Army officer thrashes SpiceJet staff: What happened?
The clash took place during the boarding of SpiceJet flight SG-386 to Delhi.
The officer, who is currently posted at the High Altitude Warfare School in Gulmarg, allegedly reacted angrily when airline staff told him he had to pay extra charges for carrying luggage over the cabin limit.
VIDEO | On July 26, 2025, a passenger reportedly assaulted the SpiceJet employees at the Srinagar boarding gate of flight SG-386 after being informed about excess cabin baggage. Despite being escorted back by CISF for bypassing security protocol, the passenger launched a brutal… pic.twitter.com/bxM83CoN84 — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 3, 2025
He was carrying two cabin bags weighing 16 kg in total, more than double the allowed limit of 7 kg, the airline said.
When the staff informed him of the extra weight and the fee, the officer allegedly refused to pay and tried to enter the aerobridge without completing the required boarding checks, violating security rules, NDTV reported.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
A Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) official in charge of airport security then took him back to the boarding gate. That's when, according to SpiceJet, things turned violent.
The airline claims the officer became aggressive and physically attacked four members of the ground staff. The assault included punches, repeated kicks, and hitting them with a queue stand.
SpiceJet said one staff member was knocked unconscious and others suffered serious injuries, including a spinal fracture and jaw injury.
'Our staff members suffered a spinal fracture and serious jaw injuries after being attacked with punches, repeated kicks and a queue stand,' the airline said.
All four were taken to the hospital and are still receiving treatment.
Videos of the incident have now gone viral on social media.
'Murderous assault': What did SpiceJet say?
In its statement, SpiceJet strongly criticised the attack and said it had filed an FIR and initiated steps to place the passenger on a no-fly list. The airline has also written to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
As per the FIR, accessed by CNN-News18, the Army officer has been booked for 'murderous assault' following the altercation.
The FIR describes the incident as 'unprovoked', 'violent', and 'abusive', targeting 'multiple civilian employees of SpiceJet'.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
It has been filed under sections 115(2), 126(2), 351(2), and 131 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to voluntarily causing hurt, wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, and assault or use of criminal force, according to News18.
The complaint also mentions that the officer 'verbally abused and criminally intimidated in an aggressive and threatening manner'.
SpiceJet said it had submitted CCTV footage of the incident to the authorities.
'SpiceJet strongly condemns any act of violence against its employees and will pursue this matter to its fullest legal and regulatory conclusion,' the airline said.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
ALSO READ | UK airport chaos: What led to over 100 flights being cancelled across Britain?
What did the officer say?
Speaking to The Indian Express, the officer said, 'I have no story to tell. The story is that they harassed me and provoked me. That is all.'
Sources told The Times of India that the officer was on emergency leave and had also filed an FIR, alleging that he was mistreated and missed his flight.
What did the Indian Army say?
Meanwhile, the Indian Army issued a statement on Sunday, saying it is committed to maintaining the highest standards of discipline and takes all such complaints seriously.
'The matter involving an alleged altercation between an Army personnel and airline staff at Srinagar Airport on 26 July has come to the notice of the Indian Army. The Indian Army is committed to uphold the highest standards of discipline and conduct, and takes all allegations seriously,' the statement read.
It added that the Army is fully cooperating with the authorities in the ongoing investigation.
With inputs from agencies
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Bangladesh's former Army chief found dead in Chittagong
Bangladesh's former Army chief Lt Gen (retd.) M Harun-Ar-Rashid was on Monday found dead in a room at the Chittagong Club, according to media reports. The 77-year-old Harun arrived in Chittagong from Dhaka on Sunday to attend a court hearing, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported, quoting the police. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program A senior official of the Destiny Group, of which the retired lieutenant general was the president, confirmed his death, the news portal reported. His body was found after he did not appear in court at the court hearing's scheduled time and did not respond to phone calls, the official said. "Club officials went to his room and found him dead," he said. Live Events Harun served as Bangladesh's Army chief from 2000 to 2002. He came to Chittagong to answer a summons in a case over financial irregularities involving Destiny Group, according to the report. Later, his body was sent to the Combined Military Hospital, Chittagong. The cause of the former Army chief's death is not yet clear; however, police and family members suspect he died from a brain haemorrhage, the report said.
NDTV
4 hours ago
- NDTV
Drones, Helicopters Part Of Major Anti-Terror Operation In Jammu And Kashmir's Kulgam
Srinagar: The security forces used drones and attack helicopters during a protracted anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district. Amid heavy firing and occasional explosions, drones are seen dropping explosives on target areas in the thick alpine forests of Akhal. It's day four of the encounter between security forces and terrorists who appear to be well entrenched. Troops, including special forces or para-troopers of the Army, are treading cautiously as helicopters hover over the area and drones continue to hit suspected hideouts in the forests. The encounter started on Friday after the Army, police and CRPF launched a joint operation following a tip-off about the presence of a large group of terrorists in Akhal area. In the initial shootout, one local terrorist was killed. Subsequently, police said that one more terrorist was killed, but his body couldn't be recovered due to the ongoing fierce gun battle. Three soldiers have also been injured in the encounter. "So far, we have recovered the body of one terrorist. We have observed the body of another terrorist, but we will wait till the body is recovered. It's a difficult terrain and a dense forest area," said VK Birdi, IGP Kashmir. Police sources say there was information about the presence of five terrorists when the operation was launched. According to reports, at least two or three are foreign terrorists who appear to be well-trained in jungle warfare. There are very few local terrorists left in Kashmir and they are scarcely trained to face the security forces. According to Mr Birdi, firing is still going on and terrorists appear to be firing from two directions. This is the third encounter in the last week. Earlier, three terrorists, who were behind the Pahalgam massacre, were killed in a meticulously planned operation by the security forces. Union Home Minister Amit Shah told Parliament that the three were identified as Pakistani terrorists who had carried out brutal killings of 26 innocent people in Pahalgam on April 22. On Thursday, two more terrorists were killed near the line of control in Poonch. Police said that they had infiltrated from Pakistan and were intercepted soon after they entered the Indian side.
The Wire
4 hours ago
- The Wire
‘Kashmiris Treated as Third-Class Citizens': Family of SpiceJet Staff After Brutal Assault at Srinagar Airport
Communalism Tarushi Aswani An FIR was filed, SpiceJet has written to the Ministry of Civil Aviation seeking action over the 'murderous assault', and the Army has taken cognisance of the incident. Meanwhile, Singh, who assaulted the staff, has lodged a counter FIR. CCTV footage of the Army officer attacking ground staff at Srinagar airport, as captured in the CCTV footage. Photo: X/@defencealerts New Delhi: In Srinagar's Bemina, Mudasir Ashraf Khan's home is being swarmed by a sea of people. Those nearby, those afar, those among the known and the unknown have been flocking his home since July 26, a routine day for Khan until the unthinkable happened. Khan, who can barely move, says he shivers when he is made to recall the incident that occurred that day at Srinagar's Sheikh Ul Alam International Airport's Boarding Gate No. 2 while he was on duty as SpiceJet ground staff. 'It was very horrible, brutal and terrifying. We never thought it would escalate into bloody and painful injuries. I was crying for help and was screaming for help but whenever the staff members tried to save me from him, he would begin assaulting anyone who came in his way or tried to stop him. I was beaten so much that I lost consciousness, I coughed out blood,' he tells The Wire. The CCTV footage and user-recorded videos of the incident have been circulating on social media. Minutes before the scheduled departure of SpiceJet Flight SG-386 to Delhi, the airport was startled with shrieks of SpiceJet staff, after the airline staff asked an Army officer, who was a passenger on the flight, to pay for his excess baggage. Lieutenant Colonel Ritesh Kumar Singh, who was carrying 16 kg of cabin baggage — double the 7 kg limit, refused to pay excess baggage charges, forcefully entering the aerobridge without completing the boarding process, violating security protocols at the defence airport. Escorted back to the boarding gate by a CISF official, Singh violently charged at the staff with a metal signboard, assaulting four SpiceJet ground staff members, the airline has publicly stated. Singh continually assaulted the staff members, threw punches, kicks and even using a metal queue stand as a weapon. As a result of it, Khan, who was among the victims, suffered spinal cord damage in L1 and L2, bruises on his arm. He has been advised complete bed rest for at least two months now, in addition to medications. Ground staff carrying an injured staff member at Srinagar airport for hospitalisation after the assault, as captured in the CCTV footage. Photo: X/@defencealerts SpiceJet has written to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, seeking action over the 'murderous assault' and the Army has also taken cognisance of the incident and issued a statement saying the Indian Army is committed to upholding the highest standards of discipline and conduct, and takes all allegations seriously and would extend 'full cooperation to the authorities in investigating the case'. SpiceJet has also lodged an FIR with the local police, and the airline has initiated the process to place the passenger on the no-fly list in accordance with civil aviation regulations. The FIR slaps Lt. Col. Singh with sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including 115 (2) (offense of voluntarily causing hurt and its punishment), 126 (2) (intentionally obstructing someone from moving in a direction they have the right to go), 351 (2) (offense of criminal intimidation which specifies the punishment for general cases of such intimidation), and 131 (punishment for assault or criminal force used against someone without grave and sudden provocation). The FIR details the incident as: 'Singh, whose identification details can be verified from airport security footage and CISF records, engaged in an unprovoked and violent assault against multiple civilian employees of SpiceJet Airlines. The victims of the assault include Mr. Govindrajan Swami, Mr. Mudasir Ashraf Khan, Mr. Nadeem Sofi, Mr. Emaad Bhat. The complaint states that, 'the passenger verbally abused and criminally intimidated the aforementioned staff members in an aggressive and threatening manner. He wrongfully restrained Mr. Mudasir Ashraf Khan, and physically manhandled him in full public view, thereby violating his personal liberty and safety. The passenger then assaulted multiple staff members, causing grievous injuries to the staff. The entire incident occurred within the jurisdiction of Srinagar Airport and was witnessed by several civilians and airport personnel. The incident is believed to have been captured by CCTV surveillance installed at the premises'.' Meanwhile, Khan's family feel a little differently. To them, this incident did not happen in isolation. Khan struggles to even speak and move on his own, while his parents are still not able to process how an incident like this could happen at one of the most guarded places in Kashmir. 'This airport is an international defence airport and has many security personnel and security cameras. My son and his colleagues manhandled in broad daylight. This is highly condemnable,' Khan's mother says. On the other hand, Singh has filed an FIR countering SpiceJet's claims and against the airport staff he was seen beating on CCTV. Sources told The Wire that in his FIR, Singh has accused the airport staff of trying to extort money from him in the name of excess baggage. Shibli Khan, Mudasir's brother, feels that the incident is a signifier of what Kashmiris are being identified as. He says, 'Kashmiris are treated as third-class citizens and many times these assaults and brutal attacks happen but the perpetrator is never held accountable. This incident is a peek at the same. The Army officer himself claimed that the person he assaulted was very weak and he couldn't defend himself. Are we not human?' Recently and even in the years that followed 2019, Kashmiris studying, working or simply existing in mainland India have been the targets of rising hate-speech and hate-crimes owing to their identity. Following the Pahalgam attack on April 22, many Kashmiri students in states including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh were allegedly asked to leave their rented apartments or university hostels; several of them were physically attacked. In Uttarakhand's capital, Dehradun, around 20 Kashmiri students fled to the airport following warnings from Hindu Raksha Dal. Speaking to The Wire, an airport staff member who witnessed the incident and wished to remain anonymous says that since then, the Srinagar airport has remained ominously quiet, and everyone who works there is still very sensitive towards any loud sound of quarrel they hear. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
