The TMC’s MP Mahua Moitra has brought her tussle with IndiGo Airlines in mid-air before the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) after the incident that happened on their flight. She was on the board of the flight from Kolkata to Delhi on 7th May 2026, to attend the Parliamentary Standing Committee meeting, when the male passengers started their encroachment on her. They started their maligning activity on the MP after they made hateful remarks about her during boarding and then moved on to film her while they chanted hateful slogans like “Chor Chor” and “TMC Chor” as the plane was on the tarmac waiting for the doors to open.
Understanding Aviation Safety Rules and Managing Unruly Passenger Incidents
The core of the dispute lies in the interpretation of aviation safety and the “unruly passenger” framework. Moitra filed her formal complaint because she believed that people were using their anger to attack her, which made her feel unsafe in a specific location. The incident shows how political expression conflicts with the protected status of civil aviation spaces. Under current DGCA guidelines, disruptive behavior ranging from verbal harassment to unauthorized filming can lead to passengers being placed on a “No-Fly List.”
This is BJP culture. Why is anyone surprised? I ignored it & went to my mtng from airport. Then people forwarded me video which the Sanghis were “viralling”. That’s when I called it out. @IndiGo6E tells me they need a formal complaint. Which I am sending. pic.twitter.com/muAQxu7vPh
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) May 7, 2026
The airline faces pressure to defend its cabin crew actions because Moitra demands they publicly identify the offenders, whom she claims were “passive bystanders” during the incident.
Political Polarization Extends Beyond Politics Into the Civil Aviation Sector
The heckling demonstrates how political conflicts between parties have started to affect public transportation centers, which operate across the country. Moitra used the term “BJP culture” to explain the incident, which she treated as a comprehensive problem instead of a single event. The use of slogans like “Jai Shri Ram” alongside “Pishi Chor” (a dig at Mamata Banerjee) suggests that the cabin of flight 6E 719 became a proxy battlefield for the recent political upheavals in West Bengal.
The “civilian buffer” violation during air travel creates major issues for the Ministry of Civil Aviation because it needs to find ways to keep public figures safe from planned disruptions. The DGCA will determine whether political chanting during the MP and agitators’ videos constitutes a back-to-back level-one offense, which requires authorities to take instant action and impose permanent restrictions on the offender.
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Bhumi Vashisht is a passionate media graduate and emerging voice in digital journalism, currently working with NewsX as an Entertainment and Viral Content Writer for the past 10 months. With a strong understanding of trending digital culture, celebrity news, and audience engagement, she specializes in crafting compelling entertainment stories and viral content that resonate with modern readers. Known for her creative storytelling approach and sharp eye for trends, Bhumi brings fresh perspectives and strategic content ideas to the fast-paced media industry.
