It is no surprise that air travel or even travel in general can be a pretty daunting experience. The anxiety of arriving on time and not missing your flight can get to anyone. But, is it justified to hit someone with that anxiety? Well, this Lucknow woman who slapped an Akasa Air ground staff member on being denied boarding might just unfortunately agree.
Akasa Air Ground Staff Member Slapped By Woman At Lucknow Airport
On August 2, officials said they detained a woman and her husband at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow. They allegedly had an altercation with a ground staff member of Akasa Air, reported Times Of India.
Flight QP 1525 was preparing to depart for Mumbai on August 1 when the incident occurred, state the reports. The couple reportedly arrived late at the airport, which led to them being denied boarding for their flight.
In frustration with the denial, the woman resorted to physical aggression and slapped a female airline staff member. A formal complaint was written by Nimisha Sharma, the Akasa Air customer service associate and the victim, to the Sarojini Nagar police.
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Unruly Passenger Assaults Staff Member
As per Sharma’s conversation with Times Of India, she said that the Mumbai-bound flight was set to depart at 5:05 PM. The last boarding of the flight was closed at 4:08 PM, accordingly. But the couple arrived at 4:18 PM and asked her for their boarding passes.
She further explained how she told them that the boarding gates had already closed and she could not give them the boarding pass. She then said how the couple got aggressive, especially the woman and proceeded to push Nimisha to her chair and slap her.
The police then booked the couple under non-cognisable offences, invoking IPC Sections 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (Insult intended to provoke a breach of peace), and 506 (criminal intimidation).
The incident was confirmed to the Times Of India agency by a spokesperson of the Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport operator. Despite the couple’s unruly behaviour and the woman’s assault on the staff member, they were released later on personal bond, said the Sarojini Nagar SHO Shailender Giri, as per Times Of India reports.
An official statement by Akasa Airline has also been issued. The statement reads ” A female passenger physically assaulted an Akasa Air partner employee at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport. In Lucknow on 1st August 2023. The passenger was travelling to Mumbai. But, was denied permission to board the flight since she reported late to the airport. An FIR has been registered at the Sarojini Nagar police station. And further investigations also are underway.”
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While being anxious and frustrated while travelling is understandable, it does not justify one’s bad behaviour towards any kind of staff. As passengers, it is also our basic duty to ensure that we have verified all the details appropriately to ensure a smooth process.
Cover image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons (Representative Image)