New Delhi: The IndiGo captain who piloted the flight on which comedian Kunal Kamra heckled Republic TV’s editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami, Thursday said Kamra’s behaviour did not warrant the action taken.
In a letter to IndiGo’s management, the captain acknowledged Kamra’s behaviour was unsavoury, but did not qualify as a level 1 unruly passenger, according to PTI. “As captain of 6E5317 Mumbai-Lucknow flight on January 28, I do not find…events reportable in any way. Mr. Kamra’s behaviour, while unsavoury, was not qualifying of a level 1 unruly passenger. Indeed, we pilots can all attest to incidents similar and/or worse in nature that were not deemed unruly,” he reportedly said in the email.
He further stated that he was disheartened that the airline didn’t consult him and made its decision based solely on social media posts.
The statement comes a day after GoAir, Spicejet and Air India put Kamra on a no-fly list until further notice. IndiGo had banned Kamra for six months.
Also read: Kunal Kamra, you only harmed yourself. Next time with Arnab, do what Arvind Kejriwal does
The incident came to light on 28 January after Kamra posted a video of him questioning Goswami’s journalistic credentials and calling him a coward on Twitter. The two were on Mumbai-Lucknow flight.
The video was widely shared on social media, and was followed by a series of tweets by Kamra.
Later that day, Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted: “Offensive behaviour designed to provoke & create disturbance inside an aircraft is absolutely unacceptable & endangers the safety of air travellers. We are left with no option but to advise other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the person concerned.”
Goswami has so far not commented on the incident.
(With PTI inputs)
Also read: Four airlines ban comedian Kunal Kamra — here’s a look at the legality of the move