Sat Feb 22 12:24:54 UTC 2025: ## Air India Apologizes After Union Minister’s Broken Seat Complaint

**New Delhi, February 23, 2025** – Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has publicly criticized Air India after discovering a broken seat on a flight from Bhopal to Delhi. The incident, which occurred on flight AI436 on February 22nd, prompted an apology from the airline and intervention from the Civil Aviation Ministry.

Minister Chouhan, en route to Delhi for engagements including the inauguration of a Kisan Mela and meetings with protesting farmers, reported that his assigned seat (8C) was broken and unusable. He noted that airline staff acknowledged the seat’s condition prior to his boarding, implying the ticket should not have been sold. He further alleged that multiple seats on the flight were in a similar state of disrepair.

While acknowledging the discomfort, Minister Chouhan’s primary concern was the ethical implications of selling faulty seats to passengers. He questioned the practice of charging full fare for unusable seating, characterizing it as “cheating.”

Air India initially responded by stating they were investigating the matter. A subsequent statement expressed deep regret for the inconvenience and pledged a thorough investigation to prevent future occurrences.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu also addressed the situation, confirming communication with Minister Chouhan and instructing Air India to take appropriate action. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will also investigate the matter.

The incident has drawn political attention, with the Congress party using the situation to criticize the government’s handling of passenger issues across the aviation and railway sectors. The party highlighted the ongoing complaints from passengers regarding service quality in these sectors.

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