IndiGo has taken decisive action by banning Hafijul Rahman from all its flights after he was filmed slapping fellow passenger Hussain Ahmed Mazumdar during a flight from Mumbai to Kolkata on August 1, 2025.
The incident unfolded as Mazumdar was suffering a severe panic attack, visibly distressed and seeking to disembark. Rahman’s violent reaction has caused widespread outrage. Following the flight, Rahman was handed over to local police but released after interrogation.
Mazumdar went missing upon landing in Kolkata, causing alarm among his family, but was later located safe at a railway station in Assam, travelling to his hometown. IndiGo has strongly condemned the act, reaffirming its commitment to the safety and dignity of all passengers and staff.
Incident Details and IndiGo’s Official Response
During IndiGo flight 6E-1387, Mazumdar began exhibiting signs of acute distress, including crying, requesting to disembark, and moving up and down the aisle as the aircraft prepared for takeoff. These symptoms linked to a panic attack created a tense atmosphere onboard.
In response, fellow passenger Hafijul Rahman slapped Mazumdar while he was vulnerable and helpless. This act of violence was captured on video and quickly spread across social media, prompting shock and condemnation from the public and officials alike.
Cabin crew swiftly intervened, reassuring Mazumdar and managing the situation to prevent escalation. IndiGo issued an official statement labelling the slap an act of “completely unacceptable” behaviour that violated airline safety norms and passenger rights.
The airline confirmed the immediate suspension of Rahman from flying on its services and reported the incident to security agencies and police for necessary action, underscoring their zero-tolerance stance on unruly behaviour.
Background and Subsequent Developments
The victim, Mazumdar, aged 39 and hailing from the Cachar district of Assam, was returning home to visit his ailing father who is battling cancer. He was scheduled to take a connecting flight from Kolkata to Silchar after the Mumbai-Kolkata leg but did not board the subsequent flight and became unreachable.
His unexplained disappearance triggered distress for his family, who contacted authorities and security personnel to locate him. After extensive search efforts, Mazumdar was found at Barpeta railway station, approximately 400 kilometres from Silchar, on his way home by train instead of by plane.
Meanwhile, Rahman was handed to law enforcement on landing but was released after questioning. Police have registered cases under sections related to assault, and investigations continue.
This incident has sparked vital conversations around mental health awareness, the treatment of vulnerable individuals during travel, and the legal and ethical obligations of airlines and passengers to ensure safety and respect within confined and high-stress environments.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This incident serves as a distressing yet crucial reminder of the pressing need to foster greater compassion, understanding, and support for people facing mental health crises, particularly in public and enclosed spaces like aircraft cabins. Violence against individuals in vulnerable states is not only reprehensible but violates the core values of empathy, peace, and human dignity.
The Logical Indian strongly advocates for enhanced sensitivity training for airline staff and awareness programmes for passengers to better manage such sensitive situations. Airlines must also implement robust protocols to recognise and support passengers undergoing distress without resorting to punitive or aggressive measures by fellow travellers.
Societal attitudes must evolve to embrace kindness, patience, and non-violent communication as tools for coexistence and harmony. How can we as a society, along with airlines and security forces, better prepare to identify and compassionately assist mentally distressed passengers, ensuring safe and empathetic travel experiences for all?
