Passenger seeks ₹30 lakh compensation, 100 upgrades

Mumbai: One of the five Jet Airways passengers who was sent to a city hospital for treatment has demanded ₹30 lakh in compensation, besides 100 upgrade vouchers, alleging lack of proper care by the airline, sources in the airline have said.

The passenger has also allegedly threatened to “share” the video of the flight, whose cockpit crew “forgot” to turn on a switch that controls cabin air pressure early on Thursday, resulting in at least 30 passengers suffering nose and ear bleeding, with the media, if his demands are not met, they said. Under the law, airlines are liable to pay compensation in case a passenger gets injured while travelling with them.

“The passenger claimed that Jet Airways has not taken care of its customers and therefore he should be paid ₹30 lakh.

“In addition, 100 upgrade vouchers to enable him travel in a business class on an economy class ticket,” a source said.

The cockpit crew of the flight, which had 171 people on board, have been derostered and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been directed to probe the incident.

Serious incidents and accidents are referred to the AAIB for a detailed investigation.

Legal recourse

The passenger, who is being treated in the city for nose bleeding, has also threatened with legal recourse over Thursday’s incident, according to the sources.

“He claimed that the doctors have advised him not to fly for five days and sought hotel stay from us, which we have already provided to him. But he has sought escalation by way of compensation and upgrade in travel class,” another source added.