Indigo flight incident: Opposition leaders hit out at Tejasvi Surya’s for ‘compromising passengers’ safety’

Calling out the BJP VIP ‘Brats’, Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted: “The BJP VIP Brats ! How dare the airline complain? Is it the norm for the BJP power elite? Did it compromise passenger safety? Ohhh! U can’t ask questions about BJP’s entitled VIP’s !”

The BJP VIP Brats !

How dare the airline complain?

Is it the norm for the BJP power elite?

Did it compromise passenger safety?

Ohhh!
U can’t ask questions about BJP’s entitled VIP’s !https://t.co/BbyJ0oEcN6

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) January 17, 2023

Sharing a picture of Surya and Indigo jet, Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi, without naming the BJP MP, tweeted, “Seems someone is too eager to achieve big in political life. It doesn’t happen this way. Success in politics is a factor of humility and perseverance, not volatility and arrogance.”

Seems someone is too eager to achieve big in political life. It doesn't happen this way. Success in politics is a factor of humility and perseverance, not volatility and arrogance.#Indigohttps://t.co/hj5wVS57Ro

— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) January 18, 2023

Asking for strict action, Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi tweeted. “Has ? Indigo reported this incident to DGCA? Shouldn’t one? take suo moto cognisance of this incident? What if this happened once the aircraft had taken off rather than when it was taxiing on the runway, should an apology suffice?”

Has ⁦@IndiGo6E⁩ reported this incident to ⁦@DGCAIndia⁩ ? Shouldn’t one⁩ take suo moto cognisance of this incident?What if this happened once the aircraft had taken off rather than when it was taxiing on the runway,should an apology suffice? https://t.co/vWQ91e94mm

— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) January 17, 2023

Supriya Shrinate, the chairperson social media and digital platforms, demanded a lesson be taught to the BJP MP. She tweeted: A mischievous man opens the emergency exit door on a flight, causing the flight to be delayed by 3 hours, the name of the person who put people at risk and inconvenience was not revealed for a month Drunk on power – that MP spreads hatred everyday This spoiled Tejasvi Surya needs to be taught a lesson.

एक बददिमाग़ आदमी फ़्लाइट में इमर्जेन्सी exit door खोल देता है जिससे फ़्लाइट 3 घंटे देर से उड़ी, लोगों को असुविधा और जोखिम में लाने वाले का नाम 1 महीने तक सामने नहीं आया

सत्ता के नशे में चूर – वो सांसद रोज़ नफ़रत फैलाता है

This spoilt Tejasvi Surya needs to be taught a lesson.

— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) January 17, 2023

Tamil Nadu DMK MLA T R B Rajaa criticised Tejasvi Surya and said: “A passenger who witnessed what happened onboard told TNM that the passengers panicked when the door was opened. “Thankfully it happened when the flight was on the ground.” It would have been really bad if something like this had happened mid-air!”

"A passenger who witnessed what happened onboard told TNM that the passengers panicked when the door was opened. “Thankfully it happened when the flight was on the ground." It would have been really bad if something like this had happened mid-air !https://t.co/WNjhgmgZ1N

— Dr. T R B Rajaa (@TRBRajaa) January 17, 2023

The airline released a statement on Tuesday, over a month after the incident, following some media reports on it. While the reports named Surya, IndiGo, however, did not name anyone in its statement.

“A passenger travelling on Flight 6E 7339 from Chennai to Tiruchirapalli on Dec 10, 2022, accidentally opened the emergency exit during the boarding process. The passenger immediately apologised for the action. As per SOPs, the incident was logged and the aircraft underwent mandatory engineering checks, which led to a delay in the flight’s departure,” the airline said.

But sources at the airline confirmed that it was Surya, who was traveling with the BJP’s Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai.