Army officer banned from flying after assaulting SpiceJet staff
Lieutenant Colonel Ritesh Kumar Singh, posted at the High Altitude Warfare School in Gulmarg, has been grounded by India's aviation regulator for five years.
The ban comes after he attacked four SpiceJet employees at Srinagar airport on July 26, following a dispute over excess baggage fees for two overweight cabin bags.
What happened and what's next
When asked to pay extra charges for his heavy bags (16kg instead of the allowed 7kg), Singh refused and forcefully entered the boarding area, breaking security rules.
After being stopped by CISF officers, he allegedly assaulted staff with punches, kicks, and even a queue stand.
The attack left one employee with a spinal fracture and another with serious jaw injuries.
Police have filed an FIR against Singh under multiple sections for grievous hurt and assault.
While he can appeal the ban, other airlines like IndiGo and Air India have also barred him from flying.
SpiceJet has called it a "murderous assault" and urged strict action to protect frontline workers.