‘I cannot hear or speak, but I will be happy to assist’: Passenger’s encounter with deaf and mute airport employee wins hearts online

There’s rarely anything memorable about standing in a baggage check-in queue. You hand over your luggage, collect your boarding pass, and move on. But one passenger says a recent airport experience gave him something he wasn’t expecting – a lesson that, in his words, had nothing to do with millionaires or motivational speakers. His interaction with an IndiGo employee who cannot hear or speak has since found an audience far beyond the airport, with the video drawing widespread appreciation on social media. Passenger says the experience stayed with himThe video was shared on Instagram by Aman Singh and features Afjal, an employee stationed at the baggage check-in counter.In the video, Afjal is seen smiling as he helps passengers through the check-in process. He is also wearing a badge that reads, “I cannot hear or speak, but I will be happy to assist.”Reflecting on the interaction, Singh wrote, “Aaj motivation kisi millionaire se nahi mili.”He went on to explain why the experience meant so much to him.“Ek aise insaan se mili jinhone mujhe dikhaya ki communication sirf words se nahi hoti.”Praising Afjal’s professionalism, he added, “Unhone mujhse usse bhi better coordinate kiya jitna kai log bol aur sun sakte hue bhi nahi kar paate.”He ended the caption with the words, “He truly made my day.”The video concludes with Singh thanking Afjal for his service and shaking his hand after receiving his boarding pass.Internet applauds the employeeThe post quickly resonated with social media users, many of whom shared their own experiences with Afjal.“He is one of our best staff … You will always find him smiling and spreading happiness,” one user wrote.Another commented, “Last month he helped me check in an extra 6-7 kg of luggage since I didn’t want to carry it in my hand luggage. He is helpful and very kind.”A third user wrote, “If he is doing this job with his specialties believe me he can do anything airport jobs are most demanding jobs its not only need present mind u need to deal with so many ppl everyday and all has different demands all has diff problems its a really hectic job and am amazed how calm and decent he is wow just WOW”Several others also appreciated the airline for providing employment opportunities to people with disabilities, saying such inclusive workplaces should become the norm rather than the exception.Disclaimer: This article is based on a social media post shared by a user on Instagram and the reactions that followed online. The views, experiences, and claims mentioned in the post belong to the respective users. The publication does not independently verify these statements. Thumb image: Instagram