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Pune/New Delhi: In a shocking incident, Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad on Thursday beat an Air India staff member with his slipper over the issue of a seat of his choice.
The MP claimed that his ticket was for business class but Air India provided him economy class.
Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju said, “No citizen should ever resort to any kind of physical assault let alone an MP.”
The incident took place when flight AI852 from Pune landed at New Delhi airport around 10.30 am on Thursday.
Apparently nursing a grouse, Gaikwad – who represents Osmanabad (Maharashtra) in Lok Sabha – refused to get off the flight, causing inconvenience to other passengers and crew on board.
Air India sent some officials to enquire the matter and learnt that he was forced to travel economy class though he held an open executive class ticket.
When they requested him to get up and deboard, Gaikwad reportedly flared up and assaulted them with his slipper, the sources said.
Later, he deboarded the flight.
In a statement, the Air India said it has constituted a team to probe into the whole incident.
The Shiv Sena MP, meanwhile, confessed hitting the Air India staff member `25 times`, alleging he misbehaved with him.
“Haan maine usko maara tha, usne badtameezi ki thi (Yes, I hit him. He misbehaved with me),” said Gaikwad.
“Do you expect me to hear their abuses quietly?,” further asked the first-time lawmaker from Maharashtra.
The Air India staff member has been identified as 60-year-old R Sukumar, the duty manager.
The sources said the flight was operated by an old ATR aircraft which has only economy class configuration. So he could not have been allotted a business class seat.
Meanwhile, Gaikwad has been trolled on social media networks for his unruly conduct and some asked his party to take action against him.
