A complaint against Air India Express has gained attention after freelance filmmaker Sameer Punjabi alleged that his rented camera tripod, valued at ₹50,000, was severely damaged during a flight from Goa to Mumbai on 20 July.
According to Sameer, he informed airline ground staff before check-in that the tripod was fragile, had been damaged previously, and was rented equipment requiring careful handling. Despite the warning, he claims the tripod and monopod were badly damaged when he collected his baggage in Mumbai.
The filmmaker said he immediately approached the airline’s customer service desk but was allegedly made to wait for nearly three hours before being offered ₹5,000 as compensation under the airline’s baggage policy. He argued that the amount was far below the value of the damaged equipment.
Sameer later shared videos, photographs, and screenshots on Instagram documenting the incident. His post also included footage that appeared to show baggage handlers throwing luggage after unloading it from the aircraft. The incident has sparked discussions online about baggage handling standards and compensation policies for damaged luggage.