The incident reportedly happened on Friday when the family was travelling from Delhi to Jodhpur to receive the Indian Air Force pilot's mortal remains. Sherbir Panag, a financial crimes and corporate governance lawyer, took to Twitter to narrate the incident on board the IndiGo aircraft immediately it landed in Jodhpur.
In what could be seen as highly insensitive behaviour, a Twitter user has claimed that some people on board the IndiGo flight in which family members of Flight Lieutenant Advitiya Bal who died in the MiG-21 crash on Thursday night, allegedly disrespected the grieving relatives.
The incident reportedly happened on Friday when the family was travelling from Delhi to Jodhpur to receive the Indian Air Force pilot's mortal remains. Sherbir Panag, a financial crimes and corporate governance lawyer, took to Twitter to narrate the incident on board the IndiGo aircraft immediately after it landed in Jodhpur.
Also Read: MiG-21 crash in Barmer: Flt Lt Advitiya Bal's family urges PM Modi to retire ageing fleet
Sherbir, son of Lieutenant General HS Panag (retired), wrote: "Was on the Indigo flight from Delhi to Jodhpur. Flight Lieutenant Bal's family was sitting adjacent to me in row 3. As we landed, the Captain requested everyone to remain seated to allow for the Bal family to disembark expeditiously. Everyone in rows 1 and 2 disregarded the announcement."
I and a few passengers had to scream at the top of our voices to make them sit down and allow the Bal family to pass. It was absolutely shocking to see one’s fellow country men and women behave in this tone deaf, selfish manner. Thats the reality of our respect for sacrifice 2/2
— Sherbir Panag 🇮🇳 (@Sherbir)He further claimed, "A few passengers and I had to scream at the top of our voices to make them sit down and allow the Bal family to pass. It was absolutely shocking to see one's fellow countrymen and women behave in this tone-deaf, selfish manner. That is the reality of our respect for sacrifice."
Sherbir said that the airline captain stepped out of the cockpit to pay his respects. Several veteran officers condemned the incident. Former Chinar Corps Commander Lieutenant General KJS Dhillon (Retd) said, "the country's bravehearts and their families definitely deserve that little empathy and respect from the fellow countrymen and women". Former Indian Army chief General Ved Malik called the passengers' conduct downright "shameless".
Flight Lieutenant Advitiya Bal and Wing Commander M Rana were killed when their MiG-21 aircraft crashed during a training sortie near Barmer in Rajasthan. The aircraft was on a sortie from the Utarlai air base, and the accident occurred around 9.10 pm.
Also Read: IAF plans to phase out remaining four MiG-21 squadrons by 2025?