20-year-old passenger alleges harassment by off-duty pilot on flight from Bengaluru to Pune

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: A 20-year-old student who had boarded an Akasa Air flight from Bengaluru to Pune accused an off-duty pilot of harassment her during the flight.

She alleged the pilot pressured her into changing seats to sit near him and offered her the alcohol he was consuming. It was revealed that the incident had taken place on October 1 when the student was returning home after completing a three-month internship in Bengaluru.

She sought assistance from a flight attendant and an airline staff, but no action was taken. Recounting the unsettling experience, the student shared that the off-duty pilot, who was wearing his airline ID card, initially offered to help with her luggage.

Later, he asked her through a flight attendant to meet at the back of the plane. She was initially concerned about her checked luggage but was surprised when he offered her a drink, which she declined.

She returned to her seat, feeling uncomfortable as he continued to engage in conversation with her. The woman alleged that initially no one attended to her complaint.

However, the airlines later responded to her on a social media post, she said. Following a detailed investigation, the airline only said that they had found, "difficulies in reaching the complainant."