AI staffer assault: Airlines put Shiv Sena MP Gaikwad on no-fly list, Delhi Police register FIR

AI staffer assault: Airlines put Shiv Sena MP Gaikwad on no-fly list, Delhi Police register FIR

In an unprecedented step, Air India and all private carriers on Thursday refused to fly Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad for assaulting an airline employee.

But the Lok Sabha member from Osmanabad in Maharashtra remained defiant and refused to apologize for repeatedly beating and trying to push down Air India officer R. Sukumar from the aircraft on Thursday.

"Air India and member airlines have decided to ban this MP from flying on all our flights with immediate effect," the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) said in a statement.

"We believe that exemplary action should be taken in such incidents to protect employee morale and public safety," added FIA Associate Director Ujjwal Dey.

The Indian Commercial Pilots Association also sought an unconditional apology from Gaikwad and threatened to direct its members "not to operate any flight which has Gaikwad on board".

The Sena leader earlier vowed to fly back to Pune but Air India cancelled his ticket.

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