Neelesh Misra says IndiGo staffer mistreated his 10-year-old daughter; airline responds: ‘She is such a finicky eater’

Writer Neelesh Misra has accused IndiGo of mistreating his 10-year-old daughter during her solo flight as an unaccompanied minor, triggering a strong online reaction and a response from the airline.

In a post on X that quickly gained traction, Misra alleged that an IndiGo cabin crew member behaved rudely towards Vaidehi Misra, who was travelling alone from Lucknow to Goa. According to Misra, the flight attendant made dismissive and humiliating remarks while speaking to the child.

Sharing details of the alleged exchange, Misra claimed the staffer referred to his daughter as a “finicky eater” and said to her, “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,” he wrote, adding that the experience reflected what he described as the airline’s “arrogance”, now directed at a child. Misra also said he personally spoke to the staff member but found her attitude unchanged. He tagged the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s AirSewa handle while raising the issue.

“This girl is getting on my nerves. She is such a finicky eater! …” “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-yr-old daughter Vaidehi Misra who just…

— Neelesh Misra (@neeleshmisra) January 13, 2026

IndiGo initially responded by acknowledging Misra’s complaint, stating on X, “Please be assured that we are taking this matter on priority and are reviewing the details thoroughly.”

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. ~ Team IndiGo

— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) January 13, 2026

Following an internal review, IndiGo released a more detailed statement, asserting that the child was “cared for and assisted throughout her journey”, and that staff remained “courteous, attentive and supportive at all times”. The airline maintained that its unaccompanied minor protocol was followed strictly, ensuring that the child was under continuous supervision.

The airline explained that as boarding time approached, the child wanted to visit nearby food outlets. “Despite the limited time available, our team members waited patiently, escorted her safely and ensured that she boarded the flight,” the statement said.

Dear Sir, thank you for taking the time to speak with us. We truly understand how worrying it can be when a child is travelling on her own. Following a detailed review with our airport teams and careful investigation of the matter, we would like to reassure you that Ms Misra was…

— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) January 14, 2026

Misra, however, remained unconvinced. He wrote, “I understand your need to defend your employee and your protocols. It is predictable.” He added that the airline’s explanation failed to address the concerns he had raised and advised parents to be cautious when allowing children to travel alone.

I understand your need to defend your employee and your protocols. It is predictable. Your detailed account doesn’t address any of the concerns I raised. That said, I don’t wish to waste any of your or others users’ social media time. I would only advise parents sending their… https://t.co/Zowi3pimE2

“I came to know of this behaviour because I had handed my daughter a basic feature phone for an emergency during her travel,” he wrote.

The incident sparked widespread discussion online, with many X users expressing distress over the child’s experience. Several described the alleged conduct as “awful,” “shocking,” and “unacceptable”.

A user wrote, “This is just awful. Poor kid she must be so traumatised. Indigo is just the worst airline it’s India’s misfortune to suffer.”

Another user commented, “I am shocked. As an ex flight attendant, i can tell you, if we knew there was a lone female minor, we would take extra care of that child. Not done!”