According to the First Information Report (FIR), Anup Kumar, the IndiGo co-pilot who fell victim to an assault by a disgruntled passenger owing to a flight delay, detailed the incident where he was physically attacked, resulting in his spectacles breaking and falling to the ground. The FIR, based on Kumar's complaint, indicated that the accused, Sahil Kataria, punched him on the left side of his face.
Describing the lead-up to the assault, Kumar stated in the FIR that the passenger boarding had concluded at 2 pm, and the flight was prepared for departure. However, a few passengers were reluctant to settle down, prompting crew members to request the pilots to step out of the cockpit and address the situation. It was during this interaction that Kataria, donning a yellow hoodie, abruptly rushed toward the pilot, delivering a punch. A viral video captured the emotional distress of a flight attendant attempting to defuse the escalating tension.
The co-pilot further narrated that the assault caused his spectacles to break and fall to the ground, with the incident unfolding in full view of the passengers on board after the door closure.
The police explained that the passenger's agitation stemmed from the significant delay of the Delhi-Goa IndiGo flight, exceeding 10 hours due to dense fog. Ultimately, the IndiGo flight departed from Delhi at 6 pm.
The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon aboard flight 6E 2175. Kataria was subsequently arrested on Monday but has since been released on bail.
In the ongoing investigation, the police, on Wednesday, questioned Kataria and recorded statements from his wife and other passengers to establish a comprehensive timeline of the events transpiring on the flight.
A police officer revealed that Kataria expressed remorse for his actions but highlighted that the extended delay had agitated not only him but also other passengers. On Monday, the chaotic situation at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport led to over 100 flight delays and five diversions.
