'Selfish, tone deaf': Passengers disregard request for family of pilot, who died in MiG-21 crash, to disembark first

The family of Flight Lieutenant Advitiya Bal, who was one of the pilots killed in the Indian Air Force’s MiG-21 trainer aircraft crash, had a harrowing experience when they were traveling on a flight to Jodhpur from Delhi to receive his body.

The entire incident was narrated by Sherbir Panag, who was a fellow passenger on the same flight, in a series of Twitter posts.

Panag wrote, “Was on the IndiGo flight from Delhi to Jodhpur. Flt Lt Bal’s family was sitting adjacent to me in row 3. As we landed the Captain requested everyone to remain seated to allow for the Bal family to disembark expeditiously. Everyone in row 1 and 2 disregarded the announcement.”

“I and a few passengers had to scream at the top of our voices to make them sit down and allow the Bal family to pass. It was absolutely shocking to see one’s fellow country men and women behave in this tone deaf, selfish manner. That’s the reality of our respect for sacrifice,” he added.