GURUGRAM- A Mumbai-based passenger has accused IndiGo (6E) of mishandling a serious privacy breach incident on board a flight departing from Mumbai Airport (BOM).
The woman alleged that a co-pilot entered the lavatory while it was occupied, leaving her feeling “utterly violated.”
The passenger, identified as Rhea Chatterji, co-founder of Safegold, shared on LinkedIn, stating that her experience was minimized by the airline.
The incident occurred on August 8, before takeoff, on a late-night IndiGo flight. Despite reporting it to the crew and later to IndiGo’s leadership, she claimed the response offered little accountability or meaningful redressal.
Photo: EurospotIndiGo Passenger Privacy Breach
According to Chatterji, she boarded the flight from Mumbai and proceeded to the forward lavatory before departure. She stated that the washroom was initially unlocked, and she secured it from inside.
Soon after, she heard a knock and verbally responded. When a second knock followed, she again responded more loudly.
Before she could finish speaking, the lavatory door was pushed open, and a male crew member, allegedly the First Officer, looked directly at her in a vulnerable state. Shocked, she recalled that he muttered “oh” and immediately shut the door.
The passenger said she felt overwhelmed, humiliated, and unsafe, particularly because this occurred in a confined environment where she could not physically distance herself.
Chatterji further alleged that female flight attendants attempted to downplay the situation by apologizing for the “inconvenience” and insisting that “he hadn’t seen anything.” She described these dismissive remarks as deeply unsettling and argued that they trivialized her distress.
Representative Photo: IndiGo AirlinesCrew Response and Alleged Mishandling
The passenger claimed the situation worsened due to the crew’s handling after the incident. She wrote that attendants continued to speak to her despite her repeated requests for space.
Instead of addressing the matter with sensitivity, they allegedly asked her to meet the Captain and the First Officer in the cockpit, a suggestion she found intimidating given the circumstances.
In her LinkedIn post, Chatterji highlighted the emotional toll: she felt compelled to sit through the 90-minute journey in silence, wishing she could disappear. She described the experience as leaving her with a “deep sense of revulsion” and isolation.
After landing, she emailed IndiGo’s senior management, including the CEO. However, she alleged that the airline’s follow-up consisted mainly of scripted phone calls and a formal apology letter.
Compensation offered included a refund of her ticket and additional vouchers, a response she argued placed a monetary value on dignity and failed to address the systemic issue.
She emphasized that her objective in sharing the post was not compensation but to raise awareness, particularly for women and families traveling with children, about the risks of inadequate accountability in aviation service standards.
Photo: Pieter ElbersIndiGo’s Official Statement
IndiGo (6E) issued a public apology, describing the occurrence as an “inadvertent mistake.” The airline assured that it had counselled the involved crew member and was reinforcing training programs to prevent recurrence.
IndiGo reiterated its commitment to passenger safety, dignity, and comfort in its statement and asserted that it treated the matter with “utmost seriousness.”
Despite this, many LinkedIn users criticized the airline’s response, arguing that describing such an incident as an “inconvenience” minimized the gravity of the violation.
Photo: EurospotPublic Reaction and Broader Implications
LinkedIn users criticized IndiGo (6E)’s response, deeming it inadequate for treating privacy violations as minor issues.
Many shared similar experiences, stressing that lavatory occupancy indicators should prevent such errors, implying negligence over the accident.
Commenters highlighted dignity’s importance, urging airlines to handle complaints with empathy rather than jargon.
The incident sparked discussions on passenger rights, especially for vulnerable groups, and the need for systemic changes in crew protocols.
Photo: Utkarsh Thakkar (Vimanspotter)Conclusion
The alleged incident underscores the challenges airlines face in balancing operational safety with passenger dignity.
While IndiGo’s official response framed the violation as accidental, public reaction suggests growing concern over how privacy and accountability are handled in the aviation industry.
For many, the case has become a reminder that safeguarding dignity and trust must extend beyond corporate apologies and into meaningful, transparent action.
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The post IndiGo Pilot Enters Lavatory Occupied by Woman Passenger appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
