Writer Neelesh Misra alleges IndiGo staff mistreated 10-year-old daughter, airline responds

A conversation about airline conduct and child safety is trending online after writer and storyteller Neelesh Misra shared an unsettling experience involving his 10-year-old daughter. Misra’s post, which quickly gained attention on X, highlights concerns about how airlines handle children travelling alone.Misra shared that during her solo flight from Lucknow to Goa, his daughter Vaidehi, was reportedly spoken to rudely by a flight attendant. According to him, the attendant referred to Vaidehi as a “finicky eater” and said, “Don’t you have eyes? Go, go eat! Go and miss your flight!”“This and a barrage of other rude things is what the @IndiGo6E staffer (Laraib?) said about my 10-year-old daughter Vaidehi Misra, who just travelled alone as an unaccompanied minor from Lucknow to Goa,” Misra wrote. He added, “We all know about the arrogance of Indigo towards adults. Today I saw it towards a child as well. I had to call the person and talk to her, and she still maintained the attitude. You should be ashamed.” Misra also tagged the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s AirSewa account to bring attention to the matter. IndiGo replied to Misra’s post on X, acknowledging his concerns and assuring that they are reviewing the situation. The airline wrote, “Mr Misra, thank you for your time on the call. Please be assured that we are taking this matter on priority and are reviewing the details thoroughly. Thank you for your understanding. We appreciate your patience while we examine this closely.”Following an internal review, the airline stated that Misra’s daughter “was cared for and assisted throughout her journey, with our teams remaining courteous, attentive and supportive at all times.” The airline clarified that Vaidehi was under continuous supervision, following its Unaccompanied Minor (UMNR) protocol. They added that as the flight time approached, Vaidehi wanted to visit a few food outlets, and the staff waited patiently, escorted her safely, and ensured she boarded the flight on time. IndiGo said attentiveness and support remain central to their service.The post sparked a wave of concern among social media users. Many described the alleged behaviour as “awful,” “crazy,” and “shocking.”Others commented that such treatment could make children anxious or even traumatize them while travelling alone.Disclaimer: The details in this story are based on public posts and statements shared by the parties involved. The claims regarding airline staff behaviour have not been independently verified, and IndiGo’s official statements are included for context.Thumb image: Instagram/ Neelesh Misra