IndiGo decides to ban TDP MP Diwakar Reddy from its flights
- The DGCA received two different accounts of TDP MP Diwakar Reddy's misbehaviour with the staff of IndiGo Airlines after he was barred from boarding a plane to Hyderabad for abusing the airline’s officials
- Reddy was denied boarding last Thursday, June 15, 2017, after he reported late for IndiGo's flight 6E 608 at Visakhapatnam airport. He started misbehaving with the airline's staff and asked the help of aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju who was present there
- IndiGo has told DGCA that the airlines and a few others have decided to ban Reddy from their flights
FollowThe government on Monday, June 19, 2017, received two different accounts of TDP MP Diwakar Reddy's misbehaviour with the staff of IndiGo Airlines after he was barred from boarding a plane to Hyderabad for abusing the airline’s officials.
The Airport Authority of India’s (AAI) Airport Director (APD) said that the airlines agreed to let Reddy fly after he asked them to. But the airlines has stated that it was forced to let Reddy fly after government officials intervened on his behalf.
Reddy was denied boarding last Thursday, June 15, 2017, after he reported late for IndiGo's flight 6E 608 at Visakhapatnam airport. He started misbehaving with the airline's staff and asked the help of aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju who was present there.
According to a report by the Times of India, Raju asked the APD to look into the matter. However, Raju did not directly ask APD to help Reddy. The APD spoke to IndiGo staffers, who said they would fly the MP on 6E 608.
The APD’s report to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)shows that the airlines and the minister sorted out the problem and the minister flew out.
However, the airlines’ report shed a different light on the matter. In their report to the DGCA, IndiGo said that their staff had received instructions from AAI chief security officer of Vishakhapatnam to allow the MP to fly at the behest of the Ministry of Civil Aviation officials present at the airport.
It also said that Reddy continued to verbally abuse IndiGo staff from the security check to the boarding gate. The minister had barged into the airlines’ office, pushed staff and also picked up a printer.
IndiGo has told DGCA that the airlines and a few others have decided to ban Reddy from their flights. No police complaint has been filed so far in the Reddy case.
