J S Sathishkumar claims KLM Airlines personnel misread visa entry rules before his family's scheduled trip in 2024
NEED TO KNOW
- An Indian court ordered police to investigate KLM Royal Dutch Airlines executives after a family was allegedly denied boarding over visa issues, according to a local report
- The family reportedly claims the airline misinterpreted Peru’s entry rules and later “red-flagged” them, causing further travel disruptions
- KLM stated it complies with travel regulations and urged passengers to ensure proper documentation before flying
A court has ordered police to register a case against senior airline executives after a family was allegedly denied boarding, according to a local report.
J S Sathishkumar tells The New Indian Express that in 2024, he purchased eight round-trip, business-class tickets for him and his family on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to Peru for 4.9 million rupees (about $52,000). The departing flight was scheduled to leave Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on June 19, 2024. The return trip home was scheduled for July 3.
However, at the Bengaluru airport shortly before departure, Sathishkumar says airline staff denied the family boarding. They reportedly cited the lack of Peruvian visas as the reason.
Credit: Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty
Sathishkumar, chairman of a local medical institution, claimed to the outlet that the airline misread the country's entry rules. He maintains that Indian nationals who hold valid visas or residency permits from countries such as the U.S., U.K., Australia or Schengen countries are permitted entry into Peru without a separate visa.
The claim matches current regulations outlined by Peru's Consulate General in London online. However, the initial report did not specify where his family held visas or residency permits.
Sathishkumar claimed to the outlet that his family was ultimately prohibited from boarding the aircraft. After threatening legal action, he alleges his family was “red-flagged” by the airline, which caused further travel disruptions.
While traveling in Singapore on a different ocassion, Sathishkumar reportedly said his son was questioned about a reported deportation in Peru — a country he's never been to.
“I faced the same ordeal,” Sathishkumar says of a subsequent visit to Australia, where he allegedly faced repeated questioning.
As a result, Sathishkumar reportedly filed a case against the airline in a court in the state of Karnataka to demand a refund of the ticket price.
Now, a civil judge and judicial magistrate in Devanahalli — where jurisdiction for the Kempegowda International Airport falls — has ordered police to complete a First Information Report against the carrier's executives, including the CEO and COO, over the alleged boarding denial, per the New Indian Express.
“Action should be taken. Otherwise, this can happen to anyone,” Sathishkumar told the outlet.
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In a statement shared with The New Indian Express, a representative for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines said the company was “obliged to comply with all applicable travel regulations,” urging passengers to ensure that they carry valid and proper documentation. They added the company “regrets that some passengers experienced inconveniences.”
PEOPLE has reached out to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for comment.
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