On Viral Video Of IndiGo Passenger Hitting Pilot India's T20 World Cup-Winning Hero react
Since Sunday evening, a video has been going viral in which a passenger is slapping a pilot due to a flight delay. The video was taken on an IndiGo Delhi-Goa flight where a frustrated passenger can be seen resorting to physical violence aboard the Airbus A20N, which was parked at the Indira Gandhi International Airport for over 10 hours. The incident was filmed by another passenger who was recording the captain announcing a further delay in departure.
The angry passenger, identified as Sahil Kataria, ran up to Anup Kumar, the flight's co-captain, and assaulted him, leaping across a food service trolley that was supposed to be a barrier between Mr. Kumar and the passengers, hitting him at least once before he was dragged off by a fellow passenger.
Former Indian cricket team player Irfan Pathan, a member of the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy-winning teams, was unhappy with the unruly behaviour of the passenger.
Irfan Pathan wrote in a post on X, "I just saw a video of a passenger hitting a pilot of a commercial aircraft. Guys, please try and understand that we all get frustrated with delayed flights, but this approach is strictly no-no! As a regular traveller, I have been part of the delays too, which needs to be addressed for everyone's comfort. Also, certain weather delays are for the passenger's safety, which we all need to understand. Stay away from raising hands towards the air crew or pilot. They are serving us regularly. Respect them."