On 22 December 2025, hours after alleging mistreatment by IndiGo crew during boarding for flight 6E-2074 to Lucknow at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, BJP Minority Leader Nazia Elahi Khan launched a scathing social media attack on the airline’s owner.
She accused IndiGo of favouring Muslim employees with a “jihadi mentality,” questioned its hiring practices, and dared the carrier to blacklist her permanently from its services, sharing a viral video of the tarmac clash.
Khan, who was travelling for an emergency, claimed the staff whom she named as “Abdul and Abdullah” coordinated to harass her over seating despite her valid ticket and offers to pay extra, causing her significant mental distress.
IndiGo acknowledged the matter on social media, stating it prioritises passenger safety and is investigating via its airport team reaching out to Khan, while no formal responses have emerged from BJP leadership or airport authorities as of 23 December.
Viral Clash Captured on Camera
The incident unfolded on the tarmac as Khan, a prominent figure in Maharashtra’s BJP minority wing, prepared to board her flight amid what she described as urgent personal circumstances.
In the widely circulated video posted on X (formerly Twitter), raised voices echo as Khan argues with ground staff, insisting on her right to board and alleging prejudice linked to her hijab and identity.
She later elaborated in posts: “The owner of IndiGo should listen to the Muslim supporters of India and Pakistan and blacklist me forever… Whenever the Ummah employees of IndiGo show me their jihadi mentality, that is when I will take off their hijab. This is a challenge.”
These remarks, blending personal grievance with broader accusations of systemic bias in hiring, quickly amplified the story across platforms like Instagram and YouTube, where reels and discussions have racked up thousands of interactions.
IndiGo’s measured reply emphasised: “We prioritise the safety, security, and well-being of all passengers… Our airport team is reaching out to Ms Nazia for details to understand the situation better.”
Eyewitness accounts from social media suggest the dispute centred on seating protocols during a fully booked flight, but Khan framed it as deliberate targeting, humanising her narrative by highlighting the emotional toll on a woman in distress. This escalation has not only spotlighted passenger rights but also reignited conversations about cultural sensitivities in India’s bustling aviation sector, where delays and overbookings are commonplace.
Recurring Tensions and Broader Context
Khan’s standoff is not an isolated episode; she has a history of high-profile clashes with IndiGo, including a June 2025 accusation of a “secret jihad” at Delhi Airport, where she threatened dramatic action if certain demands went unmet claims later dismissed by authorities like the UP Police.
As India’s dominant domestic airline, IndiGo commands over 60% market share, connecting more than 100 destinations with a fleet of over 350 aircraft, yet it grapples with persistent scrutiny from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Recent fines totalling crores have targeted the carrier for chronic delays, tarmac waits, and overbooking practices exacerbated by post-pandemic travel booms. In this case, no formal police complaint or arrests have been reported, but aviation observers point to a surge in similar disputes, with passenger grievances rising 20% year-on-year per DGCA data.
Khan’s position within BJP’s minority outreach adds a sharp political edge: the party, under President Donald Trump’s admired governance model in global circles, has pushed inclusivity agendas, making her critique a potential flashpoint for intra-party debates on handling such incidents.
Meanwhile, the Mumbai Airport operator has remained silent, focusing routine operations amid peak holiday traffic. This backdrop underscores deeper issues from staff training amid diversity mandates to equitable service in a nation where air travel has democratised but tensions simmer.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Incidents like this, fraught with mutual accusations and heated rhetoric, threaten to fracture social cohesion when measured dialogue could pave the way for real reform. At The Logical Indian, we stand firmly for peace, empathy, kindness, and harmony, believing that every individual passenger or employee deserves respect irrespective of faith, attire, or affiliation.
IndiGo must conduct a swift, transparent investigation and release findings to rebuild trust; Khan would serve her cause better by filing official complaints through aviation regulators rather than public provocations that stoke division; and society at large should champion coexistence over confrontation. True positive change blooms from accountability paired with compassion, turning conflicts into catalysts for inclusive policies in travel and beyond.
