Woman passenger alleges sexual harassment by three Air Asia employees, says they threatened of rape

The woman was travelling from Ranchi to Bengaluru on Nov 3 when the incident took place.

NEW DELHI: A 28-year-old woman on Friday was allegedly molested by three male Air Asia staffers in Bengaluru airport.

On November 3, the woman was travelling from Ranchi to Bengaluru when the incident took place. She has lodged an FIR against the Air Asia staff for misbehaviour and sexual harassment.

She said she had complained about the unhygienic condition of the aircraft's washroom after which the Air Asia staff misbehaved with her and threatened to deboard her.

"I found toilet of the aircraft dirty and complained. The cabin steward scolded and touched me inappropriately. He also threatened to deboard me. Air Asia staff at Hyderabad supported him," the victim said.

"He also threatened to kick me out of the flight. My co-passengers supported me but the AirAsia staff at Hyderabad took his side. The captain asked me if I am going to shut my mouth for the next 1-hour flight. They even humiliated me before the police," she continued.

According to the victim, the alleged staff members harassed her onboard as well as on the Bengaluru airport runway. 

The woman also claimed that a ground staffer at Bengaluru airport threatened her with rape.

"When I reached Bengaluru airport, one of the ground staff asked me to apologize to the Captain and cabin steward otherwise they will hand me over to the cops. Three of them were making a gang surrounding me and said you don't know who we are. We will take you outside and show you what we are. It was kind of a rape threat. I don't know who said it but I heard someone saying that we will rape you," she said.

Meanwhile, the Airline issued a statement over the issue and said they followed the standard operating procedures for disruptive passengers.

"The passenger resorted to verbal abuse against the senior cabin crew. The senior cabin crew then managed to calm the passenger down and resumed his duties. However, the passenger continued to be abusive," it said.

The incident comes days after the ground staff of IndiGo Airlines were caught on camera assaulting a senior citizen on the tarmac of Delhi Airport.

(With Agency inputs)