New Delhi: After Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar has now encountered a broken seat on a flight, prompting him to file a complaint with the DGCA. Questioning IndiGo Airlines’ service, Jakhar stressed that passenger safety should be the airline’s top priority. He also shared images of the damaged seats on social media. Previously, Shivraj had raised a similar concern after finding a broken seat during a flight.
Jakhar referred to the incident dated January 27, mentioning how Shivraj Singh had also expressed disappointment over the poor seat conditions. He said that the issue is not limited to Air India alone, as IndiGo seems to be facing similar problems. Many seat cushions were loose, and the overall seat condition was subpar. When he informed the cabin crew about the issue, they advised him to register a complaint on the airline’s website.
It seems broken seats, as pointed out by Sh @ChouhanShivraj ji are not the exclusive domain of Air India. Here are some pictures of an Indigo Chd-Del flight on 27th January showing many seats having loosely thrown cushions and not the regular fitted seats conforming to the safety… pic.twitter.com/0f5R9ckAQd
— Sunil Jakhar (@sunilkjakhar) February 23, 2025
Airline safety concerns
Accusing IndiGo and Air India of a ‘chalta hai’ attitude, Jakhar urged the DGCA to ensure major airlines maintain safety standards. Emphasising that passenger safety should never be compromised, he called for strict action. Earlier, Shivraj had faced a similar issue while traveling from Bhopal to Delhi.
IndiGo’s response
In response, IndiGo wrote, “Sir, our seats are designed with removable cushions, secured by velcro, to facilitate easy cleaning and maintenance. On rare occasions, they may come loose at times and may require repositioning for better comfort”.
The airline said that passenger safety remains its top priority and assured Jakhar that the overall seat design complies with all safety requirements without compromise. “Safety is paramount for us, and we assure you that the overall seat design ensures no compromise is made with safety requirements. Thank you for your kind understanding and we look forward to welcoming you onboard again soon. Team IndiGo,” it said.
Shivraj criticises Air India
On Thursday, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had to travel on a broken seat during an Air India flight on February 22, prompting him to express his displeasure. He was travelling from Bhopal to Delhi. Shivraj said that the journey on the Air India flight was uncomfortable. He added, “I had the impression that Air India’s service would improve after Tata took over the management, but it turned out to be my misconception.”
