Wrap-up: Airlines bar TDP mp after fracas

TDP MP J.C. Diwakar Reddy, who has been banned by all domestic airlines from flying over his alleged unruly behaviour at the Visakhapatnam airport, flew to Europe on Friday night as part of his annual family vacation.

According to J.C. Prabhakar Reddy, brother of the Anantapur MP, the tour was planned well in advance.

Though the exact duration of the vacation is not exactly known, a TD leader said it may last seven to 10 days.

Following the June 15 episode, in a show of unity, all major domestic airlines have barred the MP from taking their flights —  similar to action taken by the carriers after the incident involving Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad earlier this year.

On Thursday, Reddy was scheduled to fly IndiGo’s flight 6E-608, which departs from Visakhapatnam at 8.10 am, to Hyderabad. But he reached just 28 minutes before the scheduled departure, according to the airline.

As per norms laid out by the aviation regulator, airlines close check-in counters for all domestic fights 45 minutes prior to departure.

Enraged, Reddy got into a verbal spat with the ground staff and threw a printer kept at the airline’s counter after he was informed that boarding for his flight had closed.