Airline Passenger 'Abuses' Staff After Missing Flight, Calls Himself 'Victim'

India's state-controlled airline is probing an incident where a lawmaker is alleged to have misbehaved with a female staff after she refused to let him board the plane because he reached the airport late.

The incident took place at the Raipur airport in the central India state of Chhattisgarh on Aug. 7, when the lawmaker, Vinod Chandrakar, was scheduled to board an Air India flight.

According to reports, Chandrakar, allegedly started "shouting" and "abusing" the staff member after he arrived late for the flight. The passenger subsequently missed the flight which was scheduled for 6.30 p.m. local time (9 a.m. EDT) after which he “came in the check-in area and started shouting at the top of his voice. He used abusive language and hurled abuses on the female staff in public.”

Air India said has taken the matter “seriously.”

"The matter has come to our notice. The Air India management has taken it seriously and ordered a detailed enquiry. After the enquiry report (is received), further action will be taken up," Dhananjay Kumar, the airline's spokesman said in a statement Wednesday.

Chandrakar, however, denied the allegations and said he was the victim.

"I am an MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly). I know how to behave with a person. I reached the airport at around 5.30 p.m. My baggage was checked twice. Due to security checking of my baggage, I reached the final gate at 6.05 p.m. We got late to reach the last gate because of the double security check. The female staff of Air India was shouting at me and did not allow us to board," he said, adding that he subsequently missed the flight.

"I asked the female staff to arrange another flight or refund our money as it was their fault. She then gave her phone to me, saying she cannot do anything and I should talk to her superior. Then, I called CMD of Air India Ashwani Lohani who asked me to send a complaint, which I sent on WhatsApp," he added.

"The victim is being made the accused. The Air India staff misbehaved with me and now they are trying to save their skin by making me an accused. I challenge them to prove their allegations. They can check CCTV footage to find out who misbehaved," he said, adding that he was looking at filing a defamation suit against the airline management.