IndiGo bans passenger who slapped man during panic attack; victim missing after landing in Kolkata

“In line with our commitment to discourage such unruly behaviour onboard flights, the individual (assaulter) has been suspended from flying on any IndiGo flights, in accordance with regulatory provisions,” the airline said.

IndiGo added that the safety and well-being of customers and crew are its top priority and that the incident has been reported to relevant authorities for further action.

The video of the mid-air altercation, which has gone viral on social media, shows the assailant slapping a visibly distressed co-passenger. When questioned by others on board, the man said, “I was having problem.”

The assailant, identified as Hafijul Rahaman, was detained upon landing in Kolkata and was handed over to the authorities. However, he was released later.

The man who was attacked has been identified as Hussain Ahmed Mazumdar, a resident of Cachar district in Assam.

He works at a hotel in Mumbai and had flown home on the same route multiple times in the past, said his family, according to an NDTV report.

He was scheduled to take a connecting flight to Silchar, but his family says he never arrived, and his phone has remained switched off since his arrival in Kolkata.

His relatives, who had been waiting for him at Silchar airport, claim they contacted IndiGo for information but received no satisfactory response.

NDTV reported, citing police sources, that he missed the flight and did not take any other flight on Saturday.

His family said neither IndiGo nor airport authorities have been able to provide any information about his whereabouts.

They added that the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at the airport have also been informed. A missing person’s complaint has been lodged at the Udharbond Police Station.

Cachar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Numal Mahatta said they are in touch with Kolkata Police, according to the NDTV report.

According to the information available to him, both Hussain Ahmed and the assaulter were allowed to leave Kolkata Airport on July 31 following a CISF-mediated meeting between them, the report added.

Speaking to India Today, Mazumdar’s family said they were able to reach him after his flight landed in Kolkata, but lost contact soon after.

A missing person complaint has now been filed at the Kachiguda police station, and the family has sought intervention from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.