Five-year no-fly ban on Indian Army officer after boarding incident

A senior Indian Army officer has been placed on the national no-fly list for five years after allegedly assaulting four SpiceJet ground staff at Srinagar airport over a baggage dispute. The decision, announced by the aviation regulator, applies across all domestic and international flights operated by Indian carriers, effectively grounding the officer until 2030. The incident, which occurred on July 26 at the boarding gate for a SpiceJet flight to Delhi, was captured on video and sparked widespread attention after it circulated on social media.

SpiceJet said the officer, a lieutenant colonel posted at the Army’s High Altitude Warfare School in Gulmarg, arrived for boarding with 16 kilograms of cabin baggage—more than double the allowed 7 kilograms. The airline reported that staff asked him to pay the excess baggage fee and to complete standard boarding formalities; the officer allegedly refused to comply, tried to bypass procedures, and was escorted back by the Central Industrial Security Force. Witnesses described the confrontation escalating into violence at the gate, with four ground staff assaulted, one sustaining a spinal injury and another jaw injuries. A separate account...