Mangaluru: Air India airlines staff sent off a passenger after he fell short of Rs 500 to pay the fine amount, on Tuesday at Mangaluru international airport.

Valerian Matthias of Shakarapura Udupi is the passenger who suffered from the Air India staff’s decision. He was supposed to take flight at morning 8.55 from Mangaluru to Muscat.

“I had collected the boarding pass at 7 am and I had provided my handbag for the check. My handbag was 1.5cm lengthier that the supposed length. So the staff charged me Rs 1500 for that. I had only Rs 1000 and promised to pay all the money at Muscat. But the staff didn’t listened to me and I had to get off the flight,” he said.

Valerian is running a business at Muscat since past 20 years. He had to reach Muscat on Tuesday morning.