The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a five-year flying ban on Lieutenant Colonel Ritesh Kumar Singh after he violently assaulted SpiceJet staff at Srinagar airport. The incident occurred on July 26, when the officer, posted at the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) in Gulmarg, refused to pay for excess cabin baggage and turned aggressive during the check-in process for a Delhi-bound flight. He was found carrying two cabin bags weighing 16 kilograms, more than double the permitted limit of seven kilograms.
According to SpiceJet, the altercation escalated when the officer used a steel queue stand to attack ground staff, leaving multiple employees seriously injured. One staff member suffered a spinal fracture, while another sustained severe jaw injuries. In addition, a fainted employee was allegedly kicked repeatedly, and another was hit forcefully on the jaw, resulting in bleeding from the nose and mouth.
The airline described the assault as "murderous" and a clear violation of aviation security protocols, especially after the officer forcefully entered the aerobridge without completing boarding procedures. He was escorted back by a CISF official, but the violence intensified, with four SpiceJet employees ultimately assaulted.
Following the incident, SpiceJet filed a case against Singh and formally raised the matter with the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Based on the severity of the attack, the DGCA has placed him on the no-fly list for five years, the strictest penalty of its kind. The Indian Army, acknowledging the seriousness of the case, has stated that it remains committed to upholding discipline and is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
