Mahua Moitra files DGCA complaint, alleges harassment over slogan-shouting on IndiGo flight

Mahua Moitra has filed a formal complaint with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, alleging harassment by a group of men onboard an IndiGo flight while travelling to Delhi for a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on defence.

In a post on X, the Trinamool Congress MP said the incident took place on IndiGo flight 6E 719 after the aircraft landed but before its doors were opened.

According to Moitra, a group of men began shouting political slogans and filmed the episode on their mobile phones.

‘Chor’ chants and political sloganeering

The men allegedly shouted, “Chor chor, TMC chor, pishi chor, bhaipo chor,” targeting TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee.

Moitra also said she was subjected to repeated “Jai Shri Ram” chants during the incident.

Describing the episode as harassment that compromised her safety onboard, she said the behaviour crossed the line from political protest to intimidation.

“This is no citizen anger. This is harassment and violates my safety inside an aircraft,” she wrote, later adding, “This is BJP culture. Why is anyone surprised?”

The MP said she initially chose not to respond publicly and attended her parliamentary meeting as scheduled, but later decided to raise the matter after videos of the incident surfaced online.

Seeks action against IndiGo, crew

In her complaint to the DGCA, Moitra accused the men of deliberate intimidation based on her political affiliation.

She alleged they engaged in sustained political sloganeering, personal abuse and name-calling, while filming her without consent in what she described as a coordinated attempt to humiliate and provoke her for circulation on social media.

Moitra also criticised the airline crew, claiming they remained “passive bystanders” and failed to intervene or seek assistance during the incident.

She has urged the aviation regulator to direct IndiGo to file a formal complaint regarding the alleged unruly conduct within 48 hours and constitute an internal adjudication committee within the mandated 30-day period.

The complaint also seeks a show-cause notice against the airline and all cabin crew members on the flight, asking them to explain why they allegedly failed to discharge their statutory responsibilities.

IndiGo has not yet issued an official response.