In the wake of Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad attacking an AI staffer, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju on Monday expressed deep concern and said violence of any kind can be a disaster for airlines.
"Violence of any kind can be a disaster for airlines," the Union minister said in his speech in Lok Sabha.
" Rules are the same for everyone and never in my wildest dream thought that an MP will get caught in such an incident," he added.
Air India has lodged two FIRs against the MP – one, for assaulting their staff member and the other, for forcibly holding the flight and delaying it for 40 minutes.
Gaikwad was on Friday barred from flying by four private Indian carriers after he assaulted an Air India staffer. IndiGo, too, on Friday said in a statement that it will support any move which bars unruly passengers from flying.
Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad on Thursday repeatedly hit a 60-year-old Air India officer with sandal over being unable to travel business class despite having insisted on boarding an all-economy flight.