SpiceJet has placed a senior Army officer, Ritesh Kumar Singh, on its no-fly list for five years after he violently assaulted four airline employees at Srinagar airport on July 26, 2025.

The decision came after an internal committee, made up of two retired judges and a representative from another airline, as required by aviation rules, found Singh guilty of “serious misconduct”.

SpiceJet officials said he will not be allowed to travel on any of their flights, whether domestic or international, during this period, airline sources have confirmed.

India’s no-fly list has three levels of unruly behaviour. The most serious, Level 3, carries a minimum two-year ban. SpiceJet’s five-year ban places Singh at the highest end of this category. Other airlines are also free to impose similar bans on him.

What happened at Srinagar Airport?

The incident took place at the boarding gate of SpiceJet flight SG 386 from Srinagar to Delhi. Singh was carrying 16 kg of cabin baggage, more than double the permitted 7 kg limit. When staff politely asked him to pay for the excess baggage, he refused and forcefully entered the air bridge without completing boarding formalities.

He was brought back by CISF security, but at the gate, he turned aggressive and physically attacked the staff.

One employee suffered a spinal fracture and serious jaw injuries after repeated punches and kicks.

Another staffer collapsed unconscious on the floor but was still kicked and hit.

A third employee was left bleeding from the nose and mouth after being kicked in the face.

The injured staff were rushed to hospital and remain under treatment.

SpiceJet strongly condemned the attack, calling it “murderous” and a grave threat to the safety of its employees. The airline immediately filed an FIR with the police, reported the matter to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and placed Singh on the no-fly list.

Over the last five years, India has placed 379 passengers on the no-fly list for various acts of unruly behaviour.