Army officer who assaulted SpiceJet staffer, put on no-fly list for five years
The airline described the incident as 'murderous assault' occurred on July 26 after the officer, who is posted at the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) in Gulmarg, refused to pay for excess cabin baggage.
PTC News Desk: The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a five-year travel sanction an Army officer, Lieutenant Colonel Ritesh Kumar Singh,who was involved in violent altercation with SpiceJet staffer at Srinagar airport in July.
The airline described the incident as 'murderous assault' occurred on July 26 after the officer, who is posted at the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) in Gulmarg, refused to pay for excess cabin baggage.
The altercation started when Lieutenant Colonel Singh, while checking in for a Delhi-bound flight, was found carrying two bags weighing 16 kg—over twice the allowed 7 kg limit.
When the ground staff asked him to pay for the excess baggage, he became aggressive. A video of the incident shows the officer attacking staff members with a steel signboard stand.
A CISF official escorted him back to the gate, but the situation worsened when the officer physically attacked four SpiceJet employees.
Earlier, the airline highlighted the severity of the assault, stating that one staff member suffered a spinal fracture, while another sustained severe jaw injuries after being punched, repeatedly kicked, and struck with a queue stand. The airline reported the incident to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and has successfully placed the officer on the no-fly list. The Indian Army has acknowledged the case, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining discipline and cooperating fully with the investigation.