IndiGo suspends Kunal Kamra from flying after he indulges in personal slander with Arnab Goswami

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri asks other airlines to follow suit

IndiGo on Tuesday suspended stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra from flying for six months allegedly heckling a television news anchor Arnab Goswami onboard a flight, with Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri asking other airlines to follow suit.

"In light of the recent incident on board 6E 5317 from Mumbai to Lucknow, we wish to inform that we are suspending Mr. Kunal Kamra from flying with IndiGo for a period of six months, as his conduct onboard was unacceptable behaviour," IndiGo said in a statement.

The airline also advised air travellers to refrain from indulging in personal slander whilst onboard, as it can potentially compromise the safety of fellow passengers.

Puri hit out at Kamra saying offensive behaviour designed to provoke and create disturbance inside an aircraft was absolutely unacceptable as it endangered safety of air travellers.

"We are left with no option but to advise other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the person concerned," Puri said.

Following this, Air India said in a tweet, "In view of the incident onboard @IndiGo6E , Air India wishes to inform that conduct of Person concerned is unacceptable.With a view to discourage such behavior onboard flts, Mr Kunal Kamra is suspended from flying on any Air India flt until further notice."

Kamra had accosted the television anchor on an IndiGo flight to Lucknow, questioned him on his brand of journalism and posted a video of the incident on social media.

Kamra responded to IndiGo's decision by saying "thank you Indigo a six month suspension is honestly very kind of you".

"To all you ‘Nationalists’,

A member of the Anti-national club approached Arnab for a dialogue, he could educate me better on national interests & how I should keep nation first... instead of that he chose to watch some shitty movie & not engage.

Arnab your mask is off..." said Kunal Kamra in a tweet, earlier.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) rules for airline passengers categorises unruly behaviour into three categories.

Level 1 offences constitute physical gestures, verbal harassment, unruly inebriation and is punishable with an addition in 'No Fly' list of airlines upto three months. Physically abusive behaviour or sexual harassment can result in placing passenger on 'No Fly' list for six months.

The third level is termed as 'life-threatening behaviour by passengers' that may involve damage to aircraft operating systems, physical violence, attempted or actual breach of the flight crew compartment could result in airlines placing them on 'No Fly' list for a minimum period of 2 years.