Home / Crime and Justice / KLM Executives Face FIR Over Denied Boarding
KLM Executives Face FIR Over Denied Boarding
14 Apr
Summary
- Karnataka court ordered FIR against KLM CEO and COO.
- Family denied boarding from Bengaluru to Peru over visa confusion.
- Eight business-class tickets worth Rs 49 lakh were cancelled.
A Karnataka court has ordered the registration of an FIR against senior executives of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, including its CEO and COO. This action stems from a complaint filed by J S Sathishkumar after his family was denied boarding at Bengaluru airport on June 19, 2024.
Sathishkumar and seven family members were set to fly business class to Peru using eight non-refundable tickets costing around Rs 49 lakh. The airline cited confusion over Peruvian visa entry rules as the reason for denial, a justification Sathishkumar contests.
He maintains that Indian passport holders with valid visas or residence permits from the US, UK, Australia, or Schengen countries do not require a separate Peruvian visa. Following the incident, Sathishkumar alleges the family was 'red-flagged' by KLM, causing subsequent travel scrutiny.
KLM stated its obligation to comply with travel regulations and advised passengers to ensure correct documentation. The airline expressed regret for the inconvenience. Sathishkumar emphasized the need for accountability to prevent similar occurrences.
