The airline expressed regret for the incident and promised an investigation to address the concerns raised by the Governor's office.
In a surprising turn of events, Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot was denied boarding on an AIX Connect flight, a subsidiary of Air India, on Thursday, leading to a complaint lodged by the Governor's office over a perceived "breach of protocol." The incident unfolded at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport, where the flight took off without the Governor, who was supposed to travel to Hyderabad.
According to the complaint filed by the Governor's Protocol Officer M Venugopal, Gehlot arrived at Terminal-1's VIP Lounge on time for the 2.05 pm flight (flight number I5 972). However, an AirAsia (AIX Connect) employee named Arif allegedly denied the Governor entry, citing a "delay in arrival," despite the plane's door still being open. Adding to the frustration, the Governor's luggage was unloaded during this time, resulting in a delay of around 10 minutes, as reported by PTI.
Venugopal further expressed his disappointment, stating that despite the Governor being near the ladder and the door of the plane still open, he was "ignored and insulted" by not being allowed inside the flight. Gehlot had to eventually return to the VIP Lounge and take another flight after a wait of 90 minutes to reach Hyderabad.
The incident has deeply affected the Governor, who holds a significant position in Karnataka, and his office has demanded legal action against the AIX Connect Station Manager, Zico Soares, Arif, and AirAsia (AIX Connect) for the protocol breach.
In response to the incident, the airline expressed regret and assured that an investigation is underway, and appropriate action will be taken. The AIX Connect spokesperson emphasized the company's commitment to professionalism and adherence to protocol, highlighting the value they place on their relationship with the Governor's Office.