Aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has warned IndiGo airlines after a backlash over not allowing a child with special needs to board a flight with his family at the Ranchi airport over the weekend.

"There is zero tolerance towards such behaviour. No human being should have to go through this! Investigating the matter by myself, post which appropriate action will be taken," the minister wrote on Twitter on Monday.

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) chief Arun Kumar told PTI that the regulator had sought a report from IndiGo on the matter. "The DGCA is probing this incident and it will take appropriate action," he said.

The minister's reaction was based on the harrowing ordeal of the family at Ranchi airport that was widely shared on social media.

Asked about the incident, IndiGo said, "In view of the safety of passengers, a specially-abled child could not board the flight with his family on May 7, as he was in a state of panic."

The ground staff waited for him to calm down till the last minute but to no avail, it said.

The airline made the family comfortable by providing them a hotel stay and they flew the next morning to their destination, it said.

"We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers. IndiGo prides itself on being an inclusive organisation, be it for employees or its customers; and over 75,000 specially-abled passengers fly with IndiGo every month," it said.

Manisha Gupta, a fellow passenger who was witness to the scene, wrote about the incident in an elaborate Facebook post. She noted that the IndiGo manager kept shouting and telling everyone that the "child is uncontrollable".

Ms Gupta, who noted how fellow passengers offered support to the family, said that a group of doctors travelling on the same flight offered to provide full support to the child and his parents in case of a health concern onboard.