Ashhar Alam

Author and lyricist Neelesh Misra has publicly criticised IndiGo Airlines, alleging that one of its staff members behaved rudely with his 10-year-old daughter, who was travelling alone as an unaccompanied minor on a flight from Lucknow to Goa.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Misra shared a detailed account of what he described as an unpleasant and distressing experience faced by his daughter, Vaidehi Misra, during her journey. In his post, he quoted remarks he claimed were made by an IndiGo staffer, calling them inappropriate and insensitive for a child traveller.

#Indigo

“This girl is getting on my nerves. She is such a finicky eater! …”
“Don’t you have eyes? Go, go eat! Go and miss your flight!”

This and a barrage of other rude things is what the @IndiGo6E staffer (Laraib?) said about my 10-yr-old daughter Vaidehi Misra who just…

— Neelesh Misra (@neeleshmisra) January 13, 2026

According to Misra, despite his intervention over a phone call, the staff member allegedly continued to display an unhelpful attitude. Expressing his anger, he wrote that while complaints about airline behaviour towards adults are common, seeing such conduct directed at a child was deeply troubling. He also tagged Air Sewa, the civil aviation grievance redressal platform, seeking accountability.

The issue quickly gained attention online, prompting a response from IndiGo. Initially, the airline acknowledged Misra’s complaint and said the matter was being taken up on priority. “We are reviewing the details thoroughly,” the airline said, asking for patience while it examined the incident.

Subsequently, IndiGo released a more detailed statement, asserting that the child was supported and assisted throughout her journey. The airline said a review conducted with airport teams found that its staff remained “courteous, attentive and supportive” during the entire process.

Mr. Misra, thank you for your time on the call. Please be assured that we are taking this matter on priority and are reviewing the details thoroughly. Thank you for your understanding. We appreciate your patience while we examine this closely. ~ Team IndiGo

— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) January 13, 2026

IndiGo also clarified that the interaction involved discussions around excess baggage and limited time before departure. The airline stated that after explaining available options and following Misra’s instructions, staff escorted the child safely, including to food outlets she wished to visit, and ensured she boarded the flight on time.

However, Misra remained unconvinced. Responding to the airline’s explanation, he said the statement failed to address the core concerns he had raised about the alleged remarks and behaviour. He added that he chose not to prolong the exchange online but advised parents to be cautious when sending children to travel alone.

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Misra further revealed that he became aware of the incident only because he had given his daughter a basic phone for emergencies during the trip, underscoring the importance of communication when minors travel unaccompanied.

The incident has reignited discussions on airline responsibility and sensitivity when dealing with child passengers, especially those travelling alone.