In yet another incident of disruption in an airliner, a US citizen identified as 37-year-old Ramakant, coming from London caught smoking in the bathroom and misbehaving with other passengers on Air India Mumbai-London flight on March 11.
According to the reports, the crew informed that the man tried to open the door of the flight. The passenger then said he was carrying some medicine but no such object was recovered upon inspection of his luggage.
A case has been registered against Ramakant under Section 336 (whoever does any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life or the personal safety of others) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 22 (refuse to follow a lawful instruction given by the Pilot-in-Command), 23 (Assault and other acts endangering safety or jeopardizing good order and discipline) and 25 (for smoking) of the Aircraft Act, 1937. His samples were sent for examination to confirm if he was in an inebriated condition or was mentally disturbed.
The airline issued a statement that says, “A passenger on our flight AI130, operating London-Mumbai on March 10, 2023, was found smoking in the lavatory. Subsequently, he behaved in an unruly and aggressive manner, despite repeated warnings. He was handed over to the security personnel upon the flight’s arrival in Mumbai. The regulator has been duly informed of the incident. We are extending all cooperation in the ongoing investigations. Air India follows a zero-tolerance policy for any behavior that compromises the safety and security of passengers and staff.”
A few days back an Indian student coming from the U.S. allegedly urinates on a fellow male passenger on board in a drunken state on an American Airlines flight.