Passenger ‘pulls hair of stewardess and fights with staff’ on flight to London Heathrow, forcing plane to turn back
A PLANE was forced to land after a passenger pulled a flight attendant’s hair before getting into a fight with staff, it has been reported.
The Air India plane was en route from Delhi to London but was forced to turn around when the passenger became restless about 15 minutes after takeoff at 6.35am.
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After the man pulled the attendant’s hair, he began scrapping with other crew members, forcing the captain to return to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, Hindustan Times reports.
The airline said the man “received multiple warnings” but continued his “aggressive behavior” aboard flight AI 111.
As the Boeing 787 landed, airport security took the man off the plane and Air India said police are now investigating.
The crew who were attacked by the passenger are now being backed by the airline, which said the “safety, security and dignity” of people on board its planes are vital.
Air India confirmed the flight resumed at 2:24 p.m. local time.
“The passenger ignored verbal and written warnings and continued his unruly behavior, including physically injuring two cabin crew members,” the airline said.
“The pilot in command decided to return to Delhi and the passenger was handed over to security after landing.
“The safety and dignity of everyone on board is important to us at Air India.”
It comes after a student was arrested after allegedly urinating on a sleeping passenger in business class on a flight.
US college student Aryan Vohra, a 21-year-old Indian man, was on an American Airlines flight from New York to Delhi.
He was picked up by police as Flight AA 292 from JFK landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday night local time.
It is believed that he had traveled to India to attend his sister’s wedding.
American Airlines said in a statement that Mr. Vohra was “heavily intoxicated” and ignored instructions from the crew.
According to the airline’s official complaint to the General Directorate of Civil Aviation, viewed by The Hindu, a female passenger complained that he was leaning on her.
It is also claimed that he almost sat in a different seat on a toddler before the mother pushed him off.
He is said to have then urinated on a sleeping fellow passenger.
American Airlines canceled Mr. Vohra’s return ticket and banned him from flying on the airline.
Two similar incidents were reported on board an Air India flight in November and December.
The airline received hefty fines after failing to report the incidents to regulators.