A passenger from SpiceJet was removed from a flight and handed over to the police for smoking on an airport ramp and causing a disturbance with staff members, leading to public outrage, the airline announced on Monday. The individual, identified as Utkarsh Gautam, was en route from Mumbai to Jaipur on March 2 when the incident occurred. According to the airline, Utkarsh, who purportedly worked at Google, breached safety protocols by smoking in a restricted zone and displayed aggressive behavior towards ground staff and CISF personnel when confronted.
A video, whose authenticity India Today TV could not confirm, captured Gautam smoking on the tarmac as a ground staff member urged him to cease, citing safety hazards. He was then depicted arguing with airline personnel, blowing smoke in their direction through a counter opening, and repeatedly requesting evidence of a no-smoking policy. The specific airport where the incident transpired was not disclosed.
In the footage, Gautam is also heard bragging about his salary and speaking disrespectfully to staff members. Despite efforts by others to diffuse the situation, he persisted in confronting airline personnel. “This is your salary, I will put it in the gutter. I earn one million. Stay within your limits,” he was heard saying.
A spokesperson for SpiceJet stated that the passenger was promptly removed for violating safety regulations and exhibiting misconduct, and was subsequently handed over to the authorities for further action. The spokesperson remarked, “The mentioned incident occurred on March 2, 2026, when a passenger traveling from Mumbai to Jaipur was caught smoking on the ramp, blatantly flouting safety regulations. The passenger also behaved inappropriately towards our ground staff and CISF personnel. He was immediately deboarded and handed over to the police for necessary measures.”
India Today TV’s attempts to access Utkarsh’s Instagram and X profiles yielded messages stating, “This account doesn’t exist” and “profile isn’t available.”
Recently, Gautam was embroiled in a separate controversy on March 22 when he purportedly tried to open an emergency exit mid-flight on an IndiGo aircraft, necessitating intervention by the cabin crew. He also allegedly verbally abused and threatened airline staff members during the journey. Following the plane’s landing at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport, security authorities were alerted, and a complaint was filed against Gautam, leading to his interrogation.
The situation escalated when Gautam allegedly posted abusive videos on social media targeting the police, claiming wrongful detention and accusing airline employees of misconduct. However, Bengaluru Police refuted the accusations, affirming no arrest or assault occurred.
“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 provide water, restroom access, medications, and passengers stood for an hour. Despite this, they filed a false complaint, and police detained me. Please help,” read a now-deleted post by Utkarsh on X.
These consecutive incidents have raised fresh concerns regarding passenger conduct, aviation safety, and regulatory enforcement at airports.