Bengaluru, October 17, 2023: A 20-year-old student has accused an off-duty pilot of harassment on an Akasa Air flight from Bengaluru to Pune on October 1. The pilot allegedly forced her to switch seats and move close to him and offered her an alcoholic drink.
The student, who has not been named, told the Times of India that she was seated in the middle row of the flight when the pilot approached her and asked her to switch seats with him. He said that he wanted to sit with his friend, who was seated in the aisle seat next to her.
The student said that she was hesitant to switch seats, but the pilot insisted. He told her that he was a pilot and that he would take care of her. He also offered to give her an alcoholic drink.
The student eventually agreed to switch seats, but she said that the pilot continued to harass her. He allegedly kept trying to touch her and make conversation with her. She also said that he made her feel uncomfortable by staring at her.
The student said that she reported the incident to a flight attendant, but the flight attendant did not take any action. She also said that she complained to the airline after the flight, but she did not receive any response.
Akasa Air has said that it is investigating the matter. The airline has also said that it has taken steps to contact the student, but she has not been available.
The student's allegations have sparked outrage on social media. Many people have called for the pilot to be arrested and for Akasa Air to take action against its flight attendant for failing to take action.
The incident is a reminder of the importance of airlines taking sexual harassment allegations seriously. Airlines must have clear policies and procedures in place for handling sexual harassment complaints. They must also train their employees on how to identify and respond to sexual harassment.
