A woman passenger was barred from taking an IndiGo flight from Mumbai to New Delhi on Monday for being ‘inappropriately dressed’. She missed her flight but was later accommodated in another one, only after she changed to trousers.
While the woman is a former IndiGo employee, her sister is a current employee of the airline.
The airline confirmed the incident to The Indian Express saying:
We regret that an IndiGo passenger (who happens to be an ex IndiGo employee and a family member of a current employee) experienced an untoward behaviour at the Mumbai airport… As per the guidelines outlined, employees and the nominated family members are required to maintain a specific dress code, as and when they fly with the airline under the staff leisure travel privileges. Keeping in mind this policy, the Mumbai ground staff followed the protocol to brief this passenger on the dress code policy.
IndiGo statement
Social media has reacted with anger and disbelief, in equal measure, to the airline’s move.
A co-passenger, Devyadutt Sahu was allegedly threatened by the airline staff who told him that he would not be allowed to board his flight if he tried to intervene in the matter.
When we took up the matter with officials at the check-in counter, an employee attempted to harass me, saying my hand luggage was beyond the permissible limit, and that I could carry only one bag for check in.
Devyadutt Sahu
The airline said its senior managers in Delhi and Mumbai have taken the woman’s feedback and will thoroughly investigate the matter while the staff will be further sensitised via focused learning workshops.
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