Content creator and actor Apoorva Mukhija, popularly known as “The Rebel Kid,” recently took to social media to share a distressing experience she faced while boarding a flight. According to her Instagram Stories, she was denied an emergency row seat by airline staff who claimed she looked “sick” and reportedly said, “We can’t give it to disabled bodies.”
The incident has sparked outrage online, with many calling out the airline for its insensitive and discriminatory behavior. Apoorva described the situation as “confusing and humiliating,” stating that she had simply requested an emergency row seat — typically offered to able-bodied passengers willing to assist in case of an evacuation.
“I am fully abled,” she wrote, expressing disbelief at the staff’s claim. When she questioned the decision, she was allegedly told, “Aapki shakal dekh ke lag raha hai” — loosely translated as “It looks like it from your face.”
The comments not only left her shocked but raised serious concerns about how appearance-based judgments can lead to discrimination, especially in public services like air travel.
While the name of the airline has not been officially confirmed, several media outlets including Hindustan Times and Free Press Journal have reported on her account, lending credibility to the claims.
The incident has reignited conversations on the need for better sensitivity and bias training for airline staff, particularly when dealing with passengers with disabilities — or those wrongly assumed to be so.
There has been no formal apology or statement from the airline involved at the time of writing. Meanwhile, Apoorva’s followers and netizens continue to voice their support, demanding accountability and fair treatment for all travelers.
