Air India Passenger Reports Tripod Damage During Goa-Mumbai Flight, Airline Replies
Passenger alleges tripod damage on Air India flight.
A passenger has accused Air India of mishandling his baggage after claiming that his professional tripod worth Rs 55,000 was damaged during a flight from Goa to Mumbai on July 20. Photographer Sameer Punjabi shared images of the broken equipment on social media, alleging that his fragile belongings were not handled properly despite informing airline staff about the item’s condition.
According to Punjabi, he had specifically requested ground staff to take extra care of the tripod because it was a delicate piece of professional equipment and had been damaged previously. After arriving in Mumbai, he said he found the tripod completely broken along with damage to his monopod when he collected his baggage.
The passenger said he immediately approached Air India’s customer service desk to report the issue and expected assistance from the airline. However, he alleged that he was made to wait for nearly three hours before receiving what he described as an unsatisfactory response. He claimed that the only compensation offered to him was Rs 5,000, despite the higher value of the equipment.
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Punjabi also shared a video that he said showed baggage being thrown during the handling process. He claimed that when he showed the footage to an airline representative, he was told that such handling practices were normal during luggage loading. He said the incident caused him financial loss and stress as the equipment was connected to his professional work.
The complaint gained attention on social media, with several users tagging Air India and urging the airline to address the issue. Some users questioned whether compensation policies were adequate for valuable professional equipment, while others suggested that the airline should provide a replacement or a fair assessment of the damaged items.
Responding to the complaint, Air India apologised for the passenger’s experience and acknowledged the reported damage to the tripod. The airline requested Punjabi to share his PNR details so that the matter could be investigated further and appropriate assistance could be provided. The incident has once again highlighted concerns around baggage handling and passenger compensation policies in air travel.
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