Former Army major Mohammed Ali Shah has accused SpiceJet of religious slur, alleging that the airline staff threatened to complain he was a security threat given his Muslim name. The airline, however, rubbished the allegation and said the issue revolved around his “personal conduct”. Shah sent a legal notice to SpiceJet and complained to the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) and DGCA. NCM chief Wajahat Habibullah said, “We have sent a notice to the airline asking for a report. It is a shocking case.” Shah said he boarded SpiceJet flight SG 893 at Delhi airport on June 28. “After all the passengers boarded the flight to Guwahati, a SpiceJet employee told me rudely to deboard and identify my baggage.”
“I got off the aircraft and was shocked to see my suitcase lying open, its lock broken. Some of my belongings were damaged and some missing,” Shah said. He alleged SpiceJet staff was abusive and told him to give in writing that his baggage was in order and would not hold the airline responsible for any loss or damage. “They threatened to deplane me if I didn’t. When I objected, the SpiceJet staff said he would report that I was a security threat. Given my Muslim name, nobody would doubt his report. I was aghast,” Shah said.