A 30-year-old comedian thumping on an experienced Republic TV journalist in a public place may sound cool but in the meantime, it could also land you into trouble. After a mid-air spat, comedian Kunal Kamra has been banned from traveling on IndiGo Airlines and Air India for six months. This decision comes in after a video of him allegedly confronting Republic TV journalist, Arnab Goswami, went viral on social media.
Mid-air Spat with the journalist
Kunal Kamra shared a video on his twitter account where he represents the meeting of Arnab Goswami on a flight. He tries to confront the journalist who in return preferred to ignore him throughout the rift.
The 30-year-old can be seen trying to irritate the journalist and get a few words out of him; he fires multiple questions at him and taunts him to get the news anchor to speak, which he does not.
After this incident, Kunal Kamra was barred from flying by IndiGo and Air India on Tuesday after he unprofessionally confronted journalist Arnab Goswami aboard one of its flights from Mumbai to Lucknow.
IndiGo suspended Kamra from flying with it for six months while Air India banned him until further notice.
“In light of the recent incident on board 6E 5317 from Mumbai to Lucknow, we wish to inform that we are suspending Mr. Kunal Kamra from flying with IndiGo for six months, as his conduct onboard was unacceptable behavior,” the IndiGo airline said in a tweet while tagging Civil Aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
Hereby, we wish to advise our passengers to refrain from indulging in personal slander whilst onboard, as this can potentially compromise the safety of fellow passengers. 2/2@MoCA_GoI @HardeepSPuri
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) January 28, 2020
“Hereby, we wish to advise our passengers to refrain from indulging in personal slander whilst onboard, as this can potentially compromise the safety of fellow passengers,” it added.
Civil Aviation Minister calls it offensive
This incident also caught the eye of Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri who termed Kamra’s act offensive.
“Offensive behavior intended to provoke and create trouble inside an aircraft is unacceptable and threatens the safety of air travelers. We are left with no option but to advise other airlines to force restrictions on the person concerned,” Hardeep Puri said in a tweet.
Offensive behaviour designed to provoke & create disturbance inside an aircraft is absolutely unacceptable & endangers safety of air travellers.
We are left with no option but to advise other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the person concerned. https://t.co/UHKKZfdTVS
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) January 28, 2020
After the aviation minister’s tweet, Air India also suspended Kunal Kamra from its flights until further notice. “#FlyAI: In view of the incident onboard @IndiGo6E, Air India wishes to inform that conduct of Person concerned is unacceptable. With a view to discourage such behavior onboard flights, Mr. Kunal Kamra is suspended from flying on any Air India flt until further notice. @HardeepSPuri,” Air India’s official Twitter handle said.
#FlyAI: In view of the incident onboard @IndiGo6E, Air India wishes to inform that conduct of Person concerned is unacceptable.With a view to discourage such behavior onboard flts, Mr Kunal Kamra is suspended from flying on any Air India flt until further notice. @HardeepSPuri .
— Air India (@airindiain) January 28, 2020
Well, it did not end here as the comedian had to come with a witty reply seeing these developments. In response to the ban initiated by Indigo and Air India, the comedian said. “Thank you Indigo a six-month suspension is honestly very kind of you…Modiji might be suspending Air India forever.”
Thank you Indigo a six month suspension is honestly very kind of you…
Modiji might be suspending Air India forever. https://t.co/ari4erSE5F— Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) January 28, 2020
