Chouhan gets ‘broken’ seat on flight, AI starts probe; aviation minister seeks action

“I had booked a ticket on Air India flight number AI436, I was allotted seat number 8C. I went and sat on the seat, the seat was broken and sunken in. It was uncomfortable to sit,” Chouhan wrote in Hindi, tagging the airline.

“When I asked the airline staff why the seat was allotted to me if it was bad, they told me that the management had been informed earlier that this seat was not good and its ticket should not be sold. There is not just one such seat but many more,” he wrote.

Chouhan said his co-passengers requested him to change his seat but he decided against doing so. “My impression was that Air India’s service would have improved after Tata took over the management, but it turned out to be my misconception,” he added.

“I don’t care about discomfort in sitting but it is unethical to make passengers sit on bad and uncomfortable seats after charging them full amount. Isn’t this cheating the passengers?” he asked.

Chouhan then questioned the Air India management over the incident, asking if it would “take steps to ensure that no passenger faces such inconvenience in future” or “continue to take advantage of the passengers’ compulsion to reach their destination early?”

“Dear Sir, we apologize for the inconvenience caused. Please be rest assured that we are looking into this matter carefully to prevent any such occurrences in the future. We would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you, kindly DM us a convenient time to connect,” Air India said in a response to the post.

Chouhan’s ministerial colleague and Union Minister of Civil Aviation K Ram Mohan Naidu instructed the airline to take “necessary action”.

“We spoke to Air India immediately on this issue and instructed them to take necessary action. From our side DGCA will also be looking into details of the matter promptly. And I have personally spoken to Shivraj ji also,” Naidu said in a statement.

Meanwhile, a senior Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official said that it has sought a report from Air India over the incident.  With PTI inputs