• A senior Army officer attacked four SpiceJet employees over excess baggage fees.
• The assault resulted in serious injuries, including a spinal fracture and jaw trauma.
• The airline has filed a police complaint and plans to place the officer on a no-fly list.

On July 26, 2025, a senior Army officer was allegedly involved in a violent incident at Srinagar Airport, assaulting four employees of SpiceJet after being asked to pay for excess cabin baggage. This officer, Ritesh Kumar Singh, reportedly carried two pieces of baggage weighing a total of 16 kilograms, surpassing the allowed 7-kilogram limit. Following the request from the airline staff, Singh refused to comply and physically assaulted them, causing injuries described as “serious” by the airline's representatives, some of which included a spinal fracture and severe jaw injuries, according to Indiatimes and Dawn.

The incident escalated when Singh attempted to forcefully board the aerobridge without completing the necessary boarding procedures following his refusal to pay the excess baggage fee. SpiceJet's staff intervened, leading to a violent altercation where Singh was accused of continuing to assault them even after one employee collapsed unconscious from the impact, as reported by multiple sources including Indiatimes and BBC.

In the aftermath, a video of the assault became viral, leading SpiceJet to take legal action, filing an FIR with local police and seeking to place Singh on a no-fly list. Furthermore, they have provided CCTV footage to the authorities which documented the incident extensively, according to reports from Dawn and Indiatimes.

The Indian Army has confirmed it is cooperating with investigations into the case, emphasizing the commitment to uphold discipline and conduct, as communicated in their statement following the incident. Singh, on the other hand, claims he was "provoked" and has lodged a counter complaint against SpiceJet, alleging mistreatment, which highlights the complexity of the incident and sparks public debate regarding conduct and accountability, as reported by BBC.