Sahib Singh Verma can't help it. Jet Airways just brings out the worst in him. The Union labour minister, returning home after watching the cricket World Cup final in South Africa, was in a Delhi-bound flight at Mumbai airport when smoke on the runway delayed take-off. The airline requested passengers to deplane for lunch.

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Verma refused to budge and insisted on being served on board and, later, that the flight take off anyway. When a train of Jet Airways employees requested him to disembark, the minister flew off the handle. Fisting and pushing the employees in the confines of the aircraft, the minister showered them with expletives. The frightened customer relations manager locked herself in the cockpit after being manhandled. Even airline chief Naresh Goyal's apologies failed to soothe the minister who had surpassed even his previous record for loutish behaviour with the private carrier.

Seven months ago, after missing a Bhuj-bound Jet Airways flight in Mumbai airport, the minister forced the airline to fly him there in a chartered aircraft. They can heave a sigh of relief. Verma has threatened never to fly with Jet again. It could have been worse. Think what would have happened if he had a pilot's licence or if he had been the civil aviation minister.