Delhi bizman creates ruckus on Goa-Mumbai flight, held

Mumbai: The Airport police arrested a 26-year-old Delhi businessman for allegedly creating a ruckus on a Goa-to-Mumbai flight on Sunday. The man, identified as Salman Khan, allegedly had an anxiety attack on the flight and insisted on meeting the pilot, while standing with his baggage near the entry door. He was booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for endangering the lives of others and subsequently granted bail.

According to police sources, the incident occurred on Sunday morning, on board an IndiGo flight around 7am, when it took off from Dabolim Airport for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA). Soon after the plane’s departure, Khan panicked and stood near the entry door. Upon the flight attendant’s request to go back to his seat, he claimed he wanted to use the toilet.

In the complaint, the flight attendant said that Khan refused to be seated and requested a change of seat which was declined as the flight was full. While talking to the attendants, Khan claimed that he was scared and kept talking in a high-pitched voice, insisting on meeting the captain.

Even as the captain wanted to land the aircraft, it had to be flown around as Khan was standing in the galley, delaying the landing. Finally Khan was persuaded to sit by the other passengers and the aircraft landed. Soon after the landing, Khan was handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

The Airport police took custody of Khan, and a preliminary probe revealed that Khan suffered from anxiety and was scared. He was not under the influence of alcohol. Khan was booked under sections 336 (endangering lives) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 110 (indecent behaviour in public) of the Maharashtra Police Act and 22 (interference with crew), 29 (act likely to imperil safety of aircraft) and 161 (penalties) of aircraft rules and later granted bail.