Gaikwad Flies Air India Again, This Time in Business Class
Gaikwad never apologised for his misdemeanor after he hit an Air India staffer 25 times.
Barely a month after being grounded for assaulting an Air India staffer, Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad today took to the skies again.
His airline of choice was Air India, as he took a flight from Hyderabad to Delhi shortly after 4 PM, an aide of Gaikwad told PTI.
"Ravi Sir (as Gaikwad, a former teacher, is known in his Osmanabad constituency) travelled business class from Hyderabad to Delhi on Thursday, days after the flying ban was lifted," the aide said.
On 8 April, private airlines lifted the nearly two week-long flying ban on Gaikwad.
The decision of the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) had come a day after the national carrier, following direction from the Civil Aviation Ministry, revoked the ban on Gaikwad.
The flying restriction on the Lok Sabha member had been lifted after he gave an undertaking that such incidents would not reoccur.
Following the Gaikwad’s misdemeanor, Air India warned its fliers that they will now face fines and legal action in the event of unruly behaviour. On 17 April, Air India announced that it would undertake legal action to deal with unruly passengers.
A fine of Rs 5 lakh will be imposed for delays of up to one hour. A fine of Rs 10 lakh for delays of up to two hours, and a fine of Rs 15 lakh for delays of up to 3 hours.
(With inputs from PTI)
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