‘Kataria came running… punched me’: IndiGo pilot in FIR

The Indian Express visited the gift shop owned by Kataria, 35, in Southeast Delhi’s Amar Colony, where he lives with his family. His mother, who was present at the shop, refused to comment. Meanwhile, when contacted, co-pilot Anup Kumar too refused to comment, adding that he is recuperating from his injuries.

In the FIR, Kumar stated, “… I was operating flight number 6E2175 from Delhi to Goa… passenger boarding was completed by 2 pm and we were all ready for departure… few passengers were not ready to settle down… Crew had requested us to come out of the cockpit and address passengers… when we were addressing them, Mr Sahil Kataria came running towards me, pushing the cart in front of me, and punched me on the left side of the face.”

He added that due to this, his spectacles fell and broke. “This happened in front of all passengers on board. The entire incident had taken place after door closure. I would request strict action… against Mr Kataria as per Aircraft Rules and Act led by DGCA,” the FIR, lodged at IGI Airport police station on January 15, stated.

Kataria had been booked under IPC sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint).