Secret Superstar actress Zaira Wasim lately became the victim of sexual harassment in a flight. The 17-year-old actress shared her horrible experience on her Air Vistara Delhi to Mumbai flight in an Instagram Live video. While speaking about the incident, she broke down multiple times narrating her mid-air ordeal. Reportedly, the man in question was caressing her neck while she was asleep. She tried to record his misdeed but due to dim lights, she wasn’t able to do so.
Right after deboarding the flight, she took to Instagram to narrate her terrible experience in a Live video. She is heard saying, “This is not done, I am disturbed”. She spoke in a broken voice while wiping away her tears. She added, “Is this how you’re going to take care of girls?”.
Zaira Wasim managed to get a screenshot of the man’s activities on the flight to some extent. In one of the pictures she shared, the man is seen sticking his leg trying to touch her inappropriately.
She shared her ordeal in a video and a series of pictures.
The actress called out to the cabin crew for help but for no use. In the video, she also expressed disappointment with crew members of Air Vistara's Delhi to Mumbai flight.
After much social media outrage, Vistara Airlines responded on the matter. The official Twitter handle of Vistara Airlines issued a statement saying, "We @airvistara have seen the reports regarding @ZairaWasimmm experience with another customer on board last night. We are carrying out detailed investigation and will support Zaira in every way required. We have zero tolerance for such behaviour."
Responding to the incident, sources in the airline said that Zaira did not bring the incident to the crew's notice, adding that when the crew members asked Zaira and her mother to file a complaint, they denied to do so.
"Zaira Wasim had not brought the incident to notice of the crew till the flight commenced descent. After landing the crew inquired about the incident and asked Zaira and her mother if they want to file a complaint but they denied," sources in Visatara Airline told ANI.
"The airline is yet to contact the accused male passenger. All cabin crew have been summoned for inquiry in the incident. Zaira Wasim yelled at the accused passenger only during the descent of the flight. The cabin crew were all seated in their seats because it’s mandatory to have no movement during descent," they added.
Earlier, Air Vistara said that it will support Zaira in every possible way, adding that a detailed investigation is being carried out in connection with the incident.
“We @airvistara have seen the reports regarding @ZairaWasimmm experience with another customer on board last night. We are carrying out detailed investigation and will support Zaira in every way required. We have zero tolerance for such behaviour,” the airline tweeted.
Rekha Sharma, chairperson of National Commission for Women, also condemned the alleged incident, saying that she is taking a suo moto cognizance of the incident, and is issuing a notice to the airline.
"I just saw the video on Instagram & my heart goes out to her. I am really horrified the way this incident happened & after that the crew didn't help this girl. That was very shocking because Vistara claims that it has zero tolerance," she said.
"Vistara hasn't sensitized their crew to take action against men torturing women on flight. I am taking suo moto cognizance of this & giving notice to Vistara. Also a copy to DGP Maharashtra to act against Vistara Airlines," she added.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted: "The passenger should be identified to the police by @airvistara and a case filed for legal action. None of this 'he fell at my feet, so I forgive him' rubbish!".
