Indian man apologises to Singapore Airlines crew after molestation of attendant

After an Indian passenger was sentenced to jail in Singapore for molesting a Singapore Airlines flight attendant, an Indian man based in Singapore wrote a heartfelt apology to the airline's cabin crew, saying the actions of one person did not represent an entire nation.

The gesture was shared by Sharad Govil, an Indian audiologist based in Singapore, in a Facebook post after he and his wife flew on a Singapore Airlines flight.

His post came days after a Singapore court sentenced a 35-year-old Indian national to six months in jail for molesting a Singapore Airlines flight attendant and causing her emotional distress during a flight earlier this year.

The man, Akash Tiwari, also pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour and was ordered to compensate the victim for her emotional trauma and medical expenses.

Court proceedings revealed that he touched the crew member inappropriately on two occasions, smirked when confronted, and later followed her into the aircraft galley despite repeated requests to stay away, leaving her visibly shaken and in tears.

Referring to the incident, Govil wrote that while many people had seen the disturbing news, "As Indians and long-time, loyal SIA flyers, we felt it was important to say that this does not represent us, and it does not represent the deep respect and admiration we have for this airline and its crew."

He explained that Singapore Airlines had been a part of his family's life for years and that its crew had always looked after them "with warmth and grace."

Wanting to express their gratitude, the couple wrote a handwritten note thanking the airline's staff for their professionalism while also apologising on behalf of fellow Indians for the recent incident.

The note read: "As a loyal, long-time flyer of the SIA, I wanted to thank you for your exceptional service. We were deeply saddened by the recent news of the misconduct by a passenger from my country, India. We highly value and respect the crew of the SIA, but the actions of some do not represent us. Thank you for always taking care with grace, and for your world-class service. With best regards, and apologies on behalf of India."

According to Govil, the response from the crew took them completely by surprise. "What we didn't expect was how moved they were," he wrote, adding that each cabin crew member personally came over to thank them.

He said the crew-in-charge later gathered the entire team together, and they even posed for a group photograph. Ending his post, Govil thanked the crew, and every Singapore Airlines employee who had served them over the years, saying their care and professionalism had always made every journey "feel like coming home."

Take a look at the post here:

The gesture was widely appreciated online, with many users describing it as thoughtful and dignified.

Several praised Govil and his wife for taking the initiative to acknowledge the crew, saying their actions reflected the values of countless Indians who were equally disturbed by the misconduct case.

Others stressed that the behaviour of one individual should never define an entire country, while also expressing their admiration for the professionalism shown by the Singapore Airlines crew throughout the ordeal.