A Nepal national has been booked by the Delhi police for his alleged unruly behavior on an Air India flight from Toronto to Delhi. The passenger, identified as Mahesh Pandit, is accused of abusing the cabin crew members and damaging the lavatory door.
This incident adds to the growing number of cases involving disruptive behavior onboard flights. The Delhi police have registered a case against the passenger, and an investigation is currently underway.
Unruly Behavior and Altercation with Crew
According to the FIR filed by the victim cabin supervisor Aditya Kumar, Mahesh Pandit changed his seat and proceeded to verbally abuse the Air India crew members. The situation escalated further when the passenger pushed and abused Kumar after the crew member tried to stop him.
Subsequently, the passenger broke the lavatory door numbered 3F-RC. Kumar immediately informed the pilot, who issued a warning to the passenger. However, later on, the passenger was found with a cigarette lighter inside the lavatory after the smoke alert was triggered.
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Efforts to Restrain the Passenger
Describing the incident, Kumar informed the police that when he opened the lavatory door in front of the passenger, he was pushed back as the passenger hurried back to his seat, which was in row 26F.
Despite attempts to stop him, the passenger continued to push and verbally abuse Kumar. The cabin crew, including Punit Sharma and four other passengers, followed the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to restrain the unruly passenger.
Eventually, with the help of ten other passengers, they were able to restrain him. It was later revealed that the accused had attempted to assault other passengers as well.
Legal Actions Taken
The Delhi Police have registered a case against the passenger under sections 323/506/336 of the Indian Penal Code, along with sections 22, 23, and 25 of the Aircraft Rules.
The case has been filed at the IGI Police Station, and further investigation is currently underway to gather more information about the incident:
Delhi: Nepal national abuses cabin crew member onboard, breaks lavatory door, case registered
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— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) July 11, 2023
Previous Incidents of Misbehavior
This incident is part of a series of similar instances where passengers have engaged in disruptive behavior onboard flights.
One notable case involved Shankar Mishra, who allegedly urinated on an elderly woman during a New York-Delhi Air India flight on November 26 of the previous year. Mishra was arrested and spent nearly a month in jail before being released on bail.
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Conclusion
The case involving the Nepal national’s abusive behavior and damage of the lavatory door on an Air India flight highlights the ongoing issue of unruly behavior onboard airplanes. The Delhi police’s swift action in registering a case against the passenger demonstrates the seriousness with which such incidents are being addressed.
These incidents serve as reminders of the importance of maintaining decorum and respect for fellow passengers and cabin crew members during air travel.
