Air India flight with MPs on board delayed after crew members fight

An Air India Delhi-Kochi flight, with a senior minister and Members of Parliament on board, was delayed by over an hour at the Delhi airport after a fight broke out between two flight attendants.

An Air India (AI) Delhi-Kochi flight, with a senior minister and Members of Parliament on board, was delayed by over an hour at the Delhi airport after a fight broke out between two flight attendants on Thursday.

Sources said the incident happened in full view of passengers after boarding for flight AI 048 was complete. “A junior flight attendant allegedly misbehaved with a senior member and there was an altercation,” said an official.

“AI has suspended two cabin crew members for delaying the flight,” said Ashwani Lohani, chairman and managing director, AI. “Any kind of indiscipline will not be tolerated. We regret the inconvenience caused to passengers,” he said.

Sources said the flight attendants had to be offloaded after which the flight departed.

Sources said that among those on board included a senior central minister and three Members of Parliament. A number of senior IAS officials too were on the flight.

“We have ordered an inquiry and strict action would be taken against the crew responsible for the delay,” said an official.