Aug 4, 2025: On July 26, four of SpiceJet's ground staffers were allegedly assaulted at the Srinagar airport by a passenger who SpiceJet identified as an Army officer. A spokesperson for the airline said, "A passenger grievously assaulted four SpiceJet employees at the boarding gate of flight SG-386 from Srinagar to Delhi," in a statement that was released on Sunday. After being attacked with punches, multiple kicks, and a queue stand, one of our employees sustained a spinal fracture, while others sustained serious injuries. The airline filed a complaint with the local police, following which an FIR was registered. One employee collapsed unconscious on the floor, but the accused continued kicking and hitting him, it said, adding, “Another staff member suffered bleeding from the nose and mouth after receiving a forceful kick to the jaw while trying to assist the colleague who had fainted.”
Social media videos of the incident showed the passenger attacking airport staff and hitting one of them with a queue stand. According to reports, the senior Army officer who was traveling with the passenger was carrying two pieces of cabin baggage that weighed a combined 16 kilograms, which is more than twice the allowed limit of 7 kilograms. “The passenger refused to pay the applicable fees and forcefully entered the aerobridge after being politely informed of the excess baggage. This clearly violated aviation security protocols. The airline stated, "He was escorted back to the gate by a CISF official." The passenger allegedly became increasingly hostile at the gate and assaulted four ground staff members physically. In accordance with civil aviation regulations, the airline has initiated the process of placing the passenger on the no-fly list and filed an FIR with the local police. “SpiceJet has informed the Ministry of Civil Aviation of the incident and requested that appropriate action be taken against the passenger in a letter. The airline has turned over the airport's surveillance footage to the police, according to the statement. "It was a grave provocation and harassment by the airline (which led to the incident)," the accused claimed when contacted. He has also submitted a complaint against the airline staff at Budgam police station and a counter FIR has been registered.
“The matter involving an alleged altercation between an Army personnel and airline staff at Srinagar Airport has come to the forefront,” a spokesperson for the Army stated in a statement. The Army is committed to uphold highest standards of discipline and conduct and takes all allegations seriously. The authorities are receiving our complete cooperation in their investigation.