Trisha Shetty, the founder of the NGO SheSays, recently alleged that her mom was robbed mid-air during an IndiGo flight, which sparked a heated conversation on social media.
Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), Shetty shared the terrible experience, accusing the flight crew of mishandling the situation and failing to support her mother when she tried to file a formal complaint!
What happened?
According to Shetty, the robbery occurred on flight 6E 17 when her mother’s handbag, placed in the overhead compartment by the crew, was tampered with while she was asleep. A fellow passenger was caught red-handed attempting to replace the bag after rummaging through it.
Shetty expressed her frustration, stating, “Luckily she woke up when he was replacing her bag. Your crew refused to help her file a complaint. They made excuses for the thief.”
While the stolen items were recovered, thanks to other supportive passengers, Shetty highlighted that her mother was not the only victim, as other passengers also reported suspicious behavior from the same individual.
IndiGo Responds:-
IndiGo responded publicly, stating that the crew addressed the issue during the flight by asking Shetty’s mother to verify her belongings, which she confirmed were intact. They added that their security protocol allows passengers to file formal complaints upon arrival, but Shetty’s mother opted not to pursue it further due to her connecting flight.
The airline assured passengers of their commitment to safety, saying, “At IndiGo, we strive to ensure a comfortable and secure journey for all our customers.”
“Ms Shetty, we are concerned to hear this and wish to connect with you regarding the same. Requesting you to please share your contact details via DM so that we may assist you at the earliest. ~Team IndiGo,” IndiGo wrote.
Shetty Disputes IndiGo’s Claims
Shetty, however, called IndiGo’s response “categorically false.” She accused the crew of victim-blaming and making excuses for the thief, stating that they discouraged her mother from filing a police complaint by claiming it would waste her day.
Shetty added that other passengers who witnessed the incident supported her mother’s claims. She also revealed that the crew had asked passengers to “take pity on the thief” and failed to adequately assist another distressed passenger who had been seated next to the accused individual.
Frustrated by the airline’s handling of the situation, Shetty announced her plans to file a formal complaint with the Civil Aviation Ministry. “Your crew victim-blamed, made excuses for the thief, and discouraged filing a complaint. Beyond disappointed,” she wrote.