SpiceJet flyer smokes on airport ramp, misbehaves with airline staff, offloaded

A SpiceJet passenger was offloaded and handed over to police after he was caught smoking on an airport ramp and misbehaving with staff members, sparking outrage online, the airline said on Monday.

The passenger, identified as Utkarsh Gautam, was travelling from Mumbai to Jaipur on March 2 when the incident took place. According to the airline, Utkarsh, who reportedly worked with Google, violated safety norms by smoking in a restricted area and behaved aggressively with ground staff and CISF personnel when confronted.

A viral video, which India Today TV couldn't verify, shows Gautam smoking on the tarmac as a ground staff member asks him to stop, citing safety risks. He is then seen arguing with airline staff, blowing smoke towards them through a counter opening, and repeatedly demanding proof of a no-smoking rule. It was not clear at which airport the incident occurred.

In the footage, Gautam is also heard boasting about his salary and speaking disrespectfully to staff. Despite attempts by others to calm him down, he continues confronting airline personnel. "This is your salary, I will put it in the gutter. I earn one million. Stay within your limits," he is heard saying.

A SpiceJet spokesperson said the passenger was immediately offloaded for violating safety regulations and misbehaviour, and was handed over to police for further action.

"The said incident occurred on March 2, 2026, when a passenger travelling from Mumbai to Jaipur was found smoking on the ramp, in clear violation of safety regulations. The passenger also misbehaved with our ground staff and CISF personnel. He was immediately offloaded and handed over to the police for further action," the spokesperson said.

At the time of writing this article, India Today TV tried to access Instagram and X profiles of Utkarsh, but two messages appeared, saying, "This account doesn’t exist" and "profile isn't available."

PASSENGER FACED TROUBLE LAST WEEK

The incident follows reports of another recent controversy involving Gautam. On March 22, he allegedly attempted to open an emergency exit mid-air on an IndiGo flight, prompting intervention by the cabin crew. He also reportedly abused and threatened airline staff during the flight.

After landing at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport, security personnel were alerted and a complaint was filed against Gautam, who was taken in for questioning.

The situation escalated later when Gautam allegedly posted abusive videos on social media targeting the police, claiming he was wrongfully detained and accusing airline staff of misconduct. However, Bengaluru Police denied the allegations, stating no arrest or assault took place.

"I have been detained at the Kempegowda International Airport police station for unruly behavior by IndiGo staff. They were the ones who hijacked the plane. They didn't give water, provided washroom usage, medicines and passenegrs were standing for one hour. They still filed a fake complaint and police detained me. Please help," a now-deleted X post of Utkarsh said.

The back-to-back incidents have raised fresh concerns over passenger behaviour, aviation safety and enforcement of rules at airports.

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