FIA Director on reports of private airline banning Shiv Sena MP: We do not have powers to ban anyone:

The Federation of Indian Airlines has clarified that it has not banned Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad from flying after his brazen assault on an Air India officer. 

 "Have not banned MP. We do not have powers to ban anyone. In any case, Air India is not part of FIA," FIA Director Ujjwal Dey told a news agency ANI. 

Earlier it was reported that four private Indian carriers had barred Gaikwad from flying after his scuffle with Air India officer.

In a previous report an FIA source was quoted saying that the organisation, which has Jet Airways, IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir as its members, took a “strong view of the incident and accordingly taken a decision to bar Gaikwad from flying”.

Meanwhile, Budget carrier IndiGo on Friday said it will support any move which bars unruly passengers from flying, a day after Air India said it was mulling preparing a no-fly list for such people.

Read | Govt, Air India consider to put check mechanism for unruly passengers

“We will support a no-fly list,” IndiGo President and Whole Time Director Aditya Ghosh told PTI.

On Thursday, Gaikwad had repeatedly hit a 60-year-old Air India officer with sandal over being unable to travel business class despite having insisted on boarding an all-economy flight.

The national carrier has filed two FIRs against the MP, while the Shiv Sena has sought an explanation from him.

Meanwhile, the accused MP has refused to apologise for the incident, "I will not apologise, why should I? First ask him (victim) to apologise then we will see," Ravindra Gaikwad, Shiv Sena MP told media on Friday morning. 

Read | Shiv Sena-AI incident: Sir please it will be a murder case, pleads AI staffer; I have many cases against me, replies MP

#WATCH: Shiv Sena MP R.Gaikwad who assaulted AI Staff says, "won't apologise,not my mistake. Vo (victim) pehle maafi mange fir dekhenge." pic.twitter.com/T8IwCaNsmO

— ANI (@ANI_news) March 24, 2017

(With Inputs from agencies)