Actor Aditya Narayan, son of Bollywood singer Udit Narayan, allegedly created a ruckus at the Raipur airport and abused an Indigo airlines staff after he was asked to pay for the excess baggage he was carrying with his friends while boarding a flight to Mumbai on Monday.
The video of the commotion elicited widespread criticism of Narayan on social media, with many calling him ‘a fit case for a flight-ban’. Despite being warned of being barred from travelling by flights for the offence, Narayan allegedly threatened the duty manager, saying: “I will somehow reach Mumbai. If I do not strip you of your underwear, my name is not Aditya Narayan.”
The actor, who was travelling with a group of five people on flight 6E 258, was finally allowed to board the plane after he apologised to the crew, airline officials said.
According to a statement issued by the airline, the group was carrying an excess baggage of 40 kilos, for which they were charged around Rs 13,000.
“He refused to pay the amount to the female check- in staff member and said that he will pay not more than Rs 10,000 for the excess baggage and also used unparliamentary language with the female staff member,” the statement read.
Airline officials also added that Narayan pointed a finger at the duty manager and even hurled abuses. “When politely asked to be civil and not use such language as there were other passengers and female staff members present, he started shouting even louder and used abusive words which we are refraining from mentioning here,” it added.
Several witnesses also said Narayan calmed down after he was told that such behaviour could result put him into the list of flyers barred from boarding jets. Narayan’s friends, who are also believed to have intervened, asked Aditya to apologise, following which they were handed over the boarding cards. However, Narayan did not respond when DNA tried to contact him.
A new regulation issued by the Civil aviation ministry last month mandated that unruly passengers could be banned from flying for a period ranging from three months to two years or more. The extent of the ban will depend on the quantum of the act of the passenger.
