New Delhi (Agency): Air India confirmed a troubling incident that took place on one of their flights from Mumbai to Delhi on June 24. The passenger’s “repulsive” behavior onboard caused significant discomfort among fellow passengers, leading to his arrest once the aircraft touched down at the Delhi airport.
Local law enforcement filed an official complaint regarding the incident, which was also reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Police detained a man on charges of indecency and misconduct after he allegedly defecated and urinated on the flight’s floor.
The passenger, identified as Ram Singh, reportedly conducted these unacceptable acts in the ninth row of the aircraft. Alerted to the man’s “misconduct,” the cabin crew took immediate action. They issued a warning to the passenger and then isolated him from other passengers, the FIR detailed.
There has been an alarming increase in unruly passenger behavior on flights recently, prompting aviation authorities to take strict actions against those responsible. Air India expressed their serious concern over the matter, stating that the disturbing actions of the man onboard flight AI866 had created unease among other passengers.
“Upon observing the unruly actions of the passenger, our crew took swift action to manage the situation. They secluded the passenger for the remainder of the flight and issued a warning,” an airline spokesperson shared in an official statement.
After the aircraft landed in Delhi, the disruptive passenger was handed over to security personnel. The police registered a complaint and informed the aviation regulator about the incident.
The head of Air India’s security team escorted the passenger to the local police station upon arrival in Delhi. The man is facing charges under IPC sections 294, relating to obscene acts, and 510, addressing misconduct in public by a drunken individual, according to the police report.
The airline spokesperson emphasized that Air India adheres to a “zero tolerance policy for such unruly and unacceptable behaviour.” The airline also pledged to extend its full cooperation to the ongoing investigations to ensure that such incidents are prevented in the future.