Jaws broken, spine fractured: Army officers brutal assault of SpiceJet staff over extra luggage
SpiceJet described the attack as a “murderous assault,” stating that its staff sustained serious injuries, including a spinal fracture and a severe jaw injury.
PTC News Desk: A senior Army officer allegedly assaulted four SpiceJet employees at Srinagar airport after a dispute over excess cabin baggage, the airline said on Sunday.
SpiceJet described the attack as a “murderous assault,” stating that its staff sustained serious injuries, including a spinal fracture and a severe jaw injury.
The officer has been identified as Lieutenant Colonel Ritesh Kumar Singh, currently posted at the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) in Gulmarg. A case has been registered against him, though no arrests have been made yet. The incident occurred on July 26 during check-in for a flight to Delhi.
According to SpiceJet, Lt. Col. Singh was carrying two cabin bags weighing a total of 16 kg—more than twice the allowed limit of 7 kg. When informed by the ground staff about the excess baggage and asked to pay the applicable charges, he refused and turned violent.
A video of the incident shows the officer attacking airline staff with a steel signboard stand. SpiceJet further stated that he refused to pay the fee and “forcefully entered the aerobridge without completing the boarding formalities,” which violated aviation security rules.
A CISF officer then escorted him back to the boarding gate, where the situation escalated further. The officer allegedly became increasingly aggressive and physically attacked four members of the ground staff.