DGCA Demands Explanation from Air India Over Minister’s ‘Broken Seat’ Complaint

DGCA Demands Explanation from Air India: Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan criticized Air India after being allocated a defective flight seat, prompting an airline apology. The incident sparked a probe by the DGCA and highlighted concerns about service standards following Tata's acquisition of the airline.

Former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar has weighed in on Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s criticism of Air India after he was allotted a defective seat on a flight from Bhopal to Delhi.

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In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Chandrasekhar remarked, “If it was anyone else other than the polite, gentleman minister @ChouhanShivraj ji, a person would have created a justified angry response to this kind of incident????????.”

He further highlighted concerns about Air India’s service quality under Tata Group, stating, “Tatas' takeover of @airindia has created a situation of reducing competition and consumer choice in full-service airlines — which leads to complacency and chalta hai! Suggest @TataCompanies address this warp speed — else regulator/Govt will need to start looking at consumer interest as a regulatory outcome in addition to safety.”

"When I asked the flight attendants, they told me that the management had been informed earlier about the condition of the seat and its ticket should not be sold," Chouhan said. The BJP veteran said the staff also told him that there were several other defective seats on the aircraft.

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Chouhan, fondly called 'Mamaji' in Madhya Pradesh, said his fellow passengers offered to exchange seats, but he chose to complete the 1.30-hour journey on the same broken seat.

"My co-passengers requested me to change my seat, but I decided not to inconvenience them. I decided that I would complete my journey by sitting in the same seat. My impression was that Air India's service would have improved after the Tata Group took over the management, but it was my misconception," the minister further said.

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