Missing laptop fracas delays Kolkata Bangalore JetLite flight

A JetLite flight to Bangalore was delayed by 45 minutes and boarding on several flights had to be suspended for 10 minutes on Sunday evening after a passenger Saptarishi Basu, complained that his laptop had gone missing from the security hold.

Around 5 pm, Basu, who was to board the JetLite flight to Bangalore, went in for security check. On completion of his check, he found his laptop missing on the delivery side of the X-ray machine. He immediately lodged a complaint with the nearby CISF official.

5 pm is a peak travel hour, and there were over 400 passengers departing to Chennai and Delhi undergoing security checks. The CISF suspended all boardings, and started checking the CCTV footage to find the missing laptop. S.B. Hari, a Chennai bound SpiceJet passenger had mistakenly picked up Basu’s laptop, thinking it as his own, since both passengers carried the same model.

The JetLite flight took off 45 minutes behind schedule. All other flights, for which boarding had been suspended, took off on time. Basu though, was not on the JetLite flight, since he had to complete formalities. He was accommodated on an Air India flight leaving at 7.55 pm.

This does raise some interesting questions to which I request comments.

  • How do you protect and identify your laptop either during your travels on in public areas ?
  • JetLite is a low cost carrier, and Air India a full service one. Who paid for the difference in fare ? If Basu or any of the airlines did, is it not unfair ? After all, it is Hari who picked up the wrong laptop. Should he not pay for the delays ?

About Devesh Agarwal

A electronics and automotive product management, marketing and branding expert, he was awarded a silver medal at the Lockheed Martin innovation competition 2010. He is ranked 6th on Mashable's list of aviation pros on Twitter and in addition to Bangalore Aviation, he has contributed to leading publications like Aviation Week, Conde Nast Traveller India, The Economic Times, and The Mint (a Wall Street Journal content partner). He remains a frequent flier and shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about the Indian aviation industry without fear or favour.

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