A passenger on an Air India flight from Kolkata to Mumbai on October 23 alleged that he was harassed by a co-passenger for not speaking Marathi. The incident, captured on video and shared on Instagram by Mahi Khan, has drawn widespread attention online.
Passenger Threatened Over Language
According to Khan, the confrontation began when a woman passenger insisted he speak Marathi because he was traveling to Mumbai. In the video, the woman can be heard saying, “If you are going to Mumbai, you should know Marathi.” When Khan questioned her, she repeated the demand and continued arguing despite his calm response.
Verbal Abuse and Crew Involvement
Khan alleged that the woman, seated in 16A, grew aggressive and threatened him, saying, “I’ll show you what badtameezi is.” Cabin crew members were called to handle the situation, but she reportedly continued shouting and refused to stop even after intervention.
Passenger Demands Action From Air India
Khan later criticized the woman’s behaviour, calling it a violation of personal freedom. He urged Air India to take strict action against her and emphasized that forcing anyone to speak a particular language is unacceptable in 2025.
Broader Debate on Cultural Respect
The incident reignites debate over linguistic tolerance and mutual respect in public spaces. Imposing language expectations on others not only promotes division but also undermines India’s cultural diversity, something airlines and passengers must actively protect.
This woman is threatening her co passenger in an @airindia flight and telling him that he must speak Marathi if he is going to Mumbai otherwise she will teach him a lesson at the Mumbai Airport. Now this is next level of Gundardi by these Female Goons.pic.twitter.com/3ltlpyCsTz
— NCMIndia Council For Men Affairs (@NCMIndiaa) October 23, 2025
