Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu spoke to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday after he shared his “uncomfortable” journey with Air India from Bhopal to Delhi. Naidu assured Chouhan of prompt action into the matter.
Earlier in the day, Chouhan took to X slamming the airline for “cheating passengers” and allotting his a “broken and sunken” seat.
The Union Civil Aviation Minister has directed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to “examine the matter and suggest corrective measures immediately” reported News18.
Sharing his “uncomfortable” experience, Chouhan said: ” I had booked a ticket on Air India flight number AI436 and I was allotted seat number 8C. When I sat down, the seat was broken and sunken. It was uncomfortable to sit there.”
आज मुझे भोपाल से दिल्ली आना था, पूसा में किसान मेले का उद्घाटन, कुरुक्षेत्र में प्राकृतिक खेती मिशन की बैठक और चंडीगढ़ में किसान संगठन के माननीय प्रतिनिधियों से चर्चा करनी है।
मैंने एयर इंडिया की फ्लाइट क्रमांक AI436 में टिकिट करवाया था, मुझे सीट क्रमांक 8C आवंटित हुई। मैं जाकर…
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) February 22, 2025
He further said that his co-passengers urged him to exchange his seat with theirs but he decided to continue the journey on the broken seat. “Why should I trouble another friend for my sake,” he said.
On asking why he was allocated a defective seat, the airline staff told Chouhan that they had already informed the management about it and that the ticket should not be sold for it. The airline staff further told Chouhan that there were more such defective seats in the aircraft.
“My impression was that Air India’s service would have improved after Tata took over the management, but it turned out to be my misconception,” he said.
“Will the Air India management take steps to ensure that no passenger faces such inconvenience in future or will it continue to take advantage of the passengers’ compulsion to reach their destination early?” he added.
Air India responded to the Union Minister’s post with an apology and assured that they are looking into this matter carefully to prevent any such occurrences in the future.
