Army officer assaults SpiceJet staff over excess cabin baggage; 4 injured
New Delhi: An altercation over excess cabin luggage led to a violent outburst by a senior Army officer at Srinagar airport, leaving four SpiceJet employees seriously injured, media reports said, citing the airline's satement.
The incident occurred on July 26, when the officer, bound for Delhi, allegedly refused to pay for 16 kg of cabin baggage — more than double the 7 kg allowed on domestic flights.
“When politely informed of the excess baggage and asked to pay the applicable charges, the passenger refused and forcefully entered the aerobridge without completing the boarding process — a clear violation of aviation security protocols. He was escorted back to the gate by a CISF official,” SpiceJet said in a statement, according to an NDTV report.
SpiceJet Statement:⁰On July 26, a senior Army officer violently assaulted four of our staff at Srinagar airport during boarding for flight SG-386 to Delhi. One employee was knocked unconscious; others suffered serious injuries, including a spinal fracture and jaw trauma. The… pic.twitter.com/Cb3vUr5rEX
— Ashoke Raj (@Ashoke_Raj) August 3, 2025
What followed was a violent assault. Shocking visuals show the officer attacking airline staff with a queue stand, as a CISF official tries to intervene.
The officer was also seen shouting and threatening the employees.
According to SpiceJet, one staffer suffered a spinal fracture, while another was kicked in the jaw, resulting in bleeding from the nose and mouth.
“One SpiceJet employee collapsed unconscious on the floor but the passenger continued kicking and hitting the fainted employee,” the airline said.
The four injured employees were rushed to hospital, where they remain under treatment for what the airline described as grievous injuries.
A police complaint has been filed, and SpiceJet is in the process of placing the officer on the No Fly List.
The airline has also written to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, urging action against what it termed a “murderous assault” on its personnel.
“SpiceJet strongly condemns any act of violence against its employees and will pursue this matter to its fullest legal and regulatory conclusion,” it said.
The CISF, responsible for airport security, confirmed that its personnel intervened immediately and ensured no disruption to operations.
Sources in the Army said senior officers are aware of the incident and will cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
