New Delhi, Dec 20 (NationPress) A SpiceJet passenger, Ankit Dewan, has alleged that an Air India Express pilot assaulted him after a confrontation regarding alleged queue jumping at Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal 1. This incident has sparked significant outrage on social media.

Dewan posted a picture on X showing blood on his face, claiming that the altercation occurred in front of his seven-year-old daughter, who is reportedly traumatized by the event.

He tagged Delhi Police in his social media post, expressing confusion over the inability to file a complaint post-trip. "Why can’t I file a complaint after coming back? Must I sacrifice my money too, to seek justice? Will the CCTV footage disappear in the next two days till I make it back to Delhi?" he questioned.

However, the Delhi Police stated that they had not yet received a formal complaint regarding the matter. They mentioned, "The police became aware of the situation through social media. Appropriate legal measures will be taken once a written complaint is submitted by the victim."

Dewan claimed he was coerced into writing a letter stating he would not pursue the incident further. "It was either write that letter or miss my flight and waste Rs 1.2 lakh on holiday bookings," he added.

According to Dewan, the incident transpired while he was traveling with his family, including a four-month-old infant in a stroller. He alleged that airport staff directed his family to a security check-in lane designated for staff to expedite their passage through the terminal.

However, while in line, some staff members allegedly began cutting ahead of him. "The staff was jumping the queue in front of me. When I confronted them, Capt. Virender, who was also doing the same, asked if I was 'anpadh' (uneducated) and couldn’t read the signs indicating this entry was for staff," Dewan recounted, noting that the discussion quickly escalated into a heated argument.

"Unable to restrain himself, the AIX pilot physically assaulted me, resulting in my injuries. The blood seen in the photograph on my shirt is mine," Dewan stated in a subsequent X post where he identified the pilot involved.

Air India Express responded by condemning the incident, asserting that such behavior is unacceptable. They announced that the employee implicated has been suspended from official duties pending an investigation. "Disciplinary actions will follow based on the inquiry's outcomes," the airline affirmed.

They clarified that the individual was traveling as a passenger on another airline at the time of the incident and was not on duty. "Air India Express maintains the highest standards of conduct and professionalism, committed to ensuring its employees act responsibly at all times," the statement concluded.