DJ Olly Esse Slams Air India Express for ‘Rude’ Staff and Alleged Assault

New Delhi, March 2, 2026 — Popular Italian DJ and music producer Olly Esse has sparked a social media firestorm after calling out Air India Express for what she described as “unacceptable” and “aggressive” behavior by ground staff at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI).

In a series of viral posts shared on Monday, March 2, 2026, the artist—who is a frequent performer in India—detailed a chaotic scene at Terminal 1, Aisle E, alleging that airline employees were not only disrespectful but physically aggressive toward passengers.

The Incident: Pushing and Slapping Allegations

The controversy erupted when Esse took to her social media handles to share a video documenting her experience. In the clip, she claimed that the ground staff failed to manage a growing crowd of frustrated passengers effectively.

More alarmingly, the DJ alleged that she witnessed a female staff member pushing a traveler and claimed that a passenger was slapped during the heated exchange.

“Dear Air India Express, kindly inform your ground staff at Delhi T1, Aisle E, that when they are not managing customers properly, at least a ‘sorry’ would be nice to hear,” Esse wrote in her post. “I pay for a bare minimum of decent behavior.”

The DJ expressed her shock at the lack of professionalism, noting that while delays and mismanagement can happen, the shift toward physical confrontation was a step too far.

Air India Express Responds

As the video gained traction, garnering thousands of views and sparking a debate on airline hospitality in India, Air India Express issued an official response via their social media team.

The airline apologized for the “inconvenience caused” and requested the DJ to share her booking details and PNR (Passenger Name Record) privately to facilitate an internal investigation.

• Airline Statement: “We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused during your journey. We truly appreciate your patience and the opportunity to make this right.”
• Status: The airline has promised to look into the conduct of the specific staff members mentioned in the complaint.

A History of Friction

This is notably not the first time Olly Esse has had a public falling out with the carrier’s ground services. In August 2018, the DJ made headlines for similar allegations at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. At that time, she claimed she was manhandled and slapped by an outsourced staff member after a nine-hour flight delay.

While the airline denied the physical assault allegations in 2018—claiming the staff member was merely trying to stop being filmed—the recurring nature of these complaints has led many frequent flyers to voice their own frustrations on social media regarding ground staff training and temperament.

Public Outcry and Aviation Standards

The incident comes at a time when Indian aviation is under intense scrutiny following several high-profile reports of passenger-crew conflicts. Industry experts suggest that the rapid expansion of budget carriers like Air India Express has sometimes outpaced the training of ground support teams, leading to high-stress environments at major hubs like Delhi.

The Delhi Airport police have not yet confirmed if a formal First Information Report (FIR) has been filed regarding the alleged physical assault, though Esse indicated she was seeking accountability for the “violation” of passenger rights.