Mumbai Woman Claims Co-Pilot Entered Lavatory IndiGo Issues Apology

Post by : Bandan Preet

A Mumbai-based woman, Rhea Chatterji, co-founder of the gold merchandise platform Safegold, has shared a deeply disturbing experience she faced on a recent IndiGo flight. According to her account on LinkedIn, the incident took place on a late-night flight on August 8, when a male crew member, allegedly the co-pilot, entered the forward lavatory while she was using it.

Incident Details

Ms. Chatterji explained that she had boarded the flight and chosen to use the forward lavatory, which was unlocked. After entering and locking the door, she first heard a knock, to which she responded. When there was a second knock, she replied more loudly. Before she could fully react, the door was forcibly opened, and she saw a male crew member looking at her in a vulnerable state. She described the co-pilot’s reaction as merely saying “oh” before shutting the door.

“I felt shocked and utterly violated. To make matters worse, the female flight attendants tried to downplay the incident, saying they were sorry for the 'inconvenience' and were sure 'he hadn't seen anything.' I wanted to run as fast as I could away from that space. Instead, I had no choice but to return to my seat and spend the next 1.5 hours wishing I could be invisible. I felt such a deep sense of revulsion within my own body, and a complete feeling of being alone,” Ms. Chatterji wrote in her LinkedIn post.

She further added that the Captain and First Officer were not present when the incident occurred and that she was instructed to meet them inside the cockpit. This caused her further anxiety because of her vulnerable position at the time.

Response from IndiGo

After landing, Ms. Chatterji immediately contacted IndiGo’s leadership, including the CEO, describing the incident. She clarified that her intention was not to seek compensation but to raise awareness about airline safety and privacy, especially for women and parents traveling with children.

IndiGo responded with an apology, stating that the incident was an inadvertent mistake. The airline assured that the crew involved had been counselled and that training had been reinforced to prevent such incidents in the future.

The statement from IndiGo read:

"Ms Chaterji, we profoundly apologise once again for the experience you went through due to an inadvertent mistake by one of our crew. Please be assured that your feedback has been taken with utmost seriousness. At IndiGo, the safety, dignity, and comfort of our customers remain our highest priority. We assure you that the crew has been counselled and sensitised, and in cognisance of this matter, we are reinforcing training to ensure such incidents are never repeated. We remain available should you wish for any further redressal and are fully committed to restoring your trust in us."

Public Reaction

Despite the airline's apology, many LinkedIn users expressed disappointment with the response. Several readers shared similar experiences and highlighted that passenger privacy should never be treated as an “inconvenience.” Some commenters noted that aircraft lavatories have occupancy indicators, suggesting the co-pilot’s entry may not have been entirely accidental.

Ms. Chatterji’s post sparked a wider discussion about airline safety, crew behaviour, and the importance of taking passenger complaints seriously. Many stressed that incidents like these can have lasting emotional effects and that airlines must ensure their staff understand the importance of respecting privacy and maintaining passenger dignity.

Awareness and Safety Concerns

This incident has highlighted a crucial concern for passengers, particularly women traveling alone or with children. While airlines implement strict safety protocols, passenger experiences like these underline the need for continuous training and clear rules about access to sensitive areas like lavatories.

Experts suggest that airlines should establish clear accountability and encourage passengers to report inappropriate behaviour without fear. Rhea Chatterji’s efforts to raise awareness are being seen as a step toward stronger advocacy for passenger safety and dignity on flights.

While IndiGo has taken steps to address the situation, the public response indicates a growing demand for transparency and more effective measures to protect passenger privacy. Passengers, especially women, are now more aware of the importance of vigilance during flights and the need to report any uncomfortable or inappropriate actions by crew members.

IndiGo incident, co-pilot lavatory, airline safety, women's privacy, passenger complaint