An Air India passenger claimed he was threatened by a co-passenger for not speaking Marathi. The incident took place on October 23 on a flight from Kolkata to Mumbai. The passenger, Mahi Khan, shared footage of the confrontation on Instagram.
In the video, the unidentified woman allegedly said, “If you’re going to Mumbai, you should know Marathi.” The incident sparked concern among viewers about language-based harassment in public spaces.
Argument Over the Marathi Language
According to Khan, the woman confronted him after he refused to speak in Marathi. He asked her, “You’re telling me that I need to speak in Marathi?” The woman insisted, replying, “Yes. If you’re going to Mumbai, you should know Marathi.”
Khan said he called the Air India crew for help. The woman allegedly threatened him in front of the crew, saying, “I’ll show you what badtameezi is (I’ll show you what misbehavior is).”
Khan added in his Instagram post, “She sat in seat 16A and started shouting that I have to speak in Marathi because I’m flying to Mumbai. When I calmly ‘Kya Badtameezi Hai Yeh,’ she said, ‘I’ll show you what badtameezi is.’”
Passenger Raises Concern Over Language Bullying
After the encounter, Khan addressed viewers directly in a video. He questioned the mindset behind forcing language rules on others in 2025. He wrote, “I recorded everything. Because this isn’t just about me, it’s about the mindset that’s growing dangerously normal. You cannot force a language. You cannot bully respect.”
Khan also urged Air India to take strict action against the woman. The incident raises broader concerns about language-based harassment during air travel.
