An expat pilot with an Indian airline, Jet Airways has been de-rostered for allegedly racially abusing and physically assaulting a female passenger and a specially-abled passenger, The Indian Express reports.
Pooja Singh Gujral along with Jatinder Shah were travelling from Mumbai to Chandigarh on April 3 when this alleged incident occurred.
Gujral in a Facebook post wrote, “On arrival a close friend's customised wheel chair that was checked in as per jet regulations did not reach him. The flight was already delayed because of the airlines internal issues. He was made to wait and i decided to wait along with him!
“Meanwhile the captain of the aircraft 'Bernd Hoesslin' came and started behaving nasty and screaming for checking in his personal wheelchair.
“I intervened and told him that it is allowed and various times this wheelchair was checked in earlier as well! Plus Jet Airways had checked it in at chandigarh so it was allowed!
“He got really mad at me and started screaming and pushed my hand saying 'GET OUT' ! I moved him aside and warned him not to touch me! He said 'u bloody indian' and that’s when i gave him hell.
“My friend who is specially challenged intervened to help but he was nasty and rude to him too.”
Shah, who was assaulted on the flight, is a Punjabi music director and Gujral works as a marketing professional in film industry.
Gujral’s friend and Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh tweeted in their support and urged Indian Prime Minister to take action against the pilot.
A complaint was lodged on April 4 at the Sahar International Airport police station, Hindustan Times wrote.
Jet Airways issued a statement that corrective action will be taken as per the company policy, and after due investigation.
“Jet Airways has zero tolerance towards any action of its employees that contravenes local or international laws prevalent in the countries of its operations,” read the statement.
“Additionally, we have a strict employee code of conduct, which is based on the values and ethos of the airline. This is clearly mentioned in the prescribed service conditions for employees and is adequately emphasized during internal training sessions. All airline employees/staff members are required to comply with company’s rules and regulations and with the customs and security laws of the countries that Jet Airways’ flies to.
“As regards the said incident, Jet Airways has noted guest feedback with concern and regrets the incident. The airline has as per policy initiated a full-fledged investigation, based on specific inputs from guests, concerned departments and agencies.”
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