'Unruly' Passenger Hits Cabin Crew Mid Air, Forces Air India Flight to Return to Delhi

A London-bound Air India flight from Delhi returned to Indira Gandhi International Airport on Monday after an unruly passenger had a brawl with crew members mid-air.

Air India Delhi-London (AI-111) flight turns around mid-air due to an ‘unruly’ passenger who caused ‘physical harm’ to two of the cabin crew members, the airline said in a statement.

The passenger was handed over to the airport security personnel upon landing, and the airline has also lodged a complaint with the Delhi Airport Police on the incident.

“Air India flight AI 111 scheduled to operate Delhi-London Heathrow on April 10, 2023, returned to Delhi shortly after departure due to the serious unruly behaviour of a passenger on board,” an Air India spokesperson said.

“Not heeding to verbal and written warnings, the passenger continued with unruly behaviour including causing physical harm to two of the cabin crew members. The pilot in command decided to return to Delhi and the passenger was handed over to the security personnel upon landing,” it added.

The statement further said that the airline is providing all possible support to the affected crew members and expressed regrets for the inconvenience caused to the passengers and have rescheduled the flight to depart for London this afternoon.

Meanwhile, the police said they have received the complaint and will take action on it.

Airlines have witnessed many such incidents of unruly behaviour by some air passengers in the last few months.

Last week, a drunk flyer on board an Indigo flight from Delhi to Bengaluru tried to open the flap of the emergency doors. Subsequently, the matter was reported to the concerned agencies and appropriate action was initiated.

During the end of March, two passengers travelling on an Indigo flight from Dubai to Mumbai continued consuming alcohol onboard despite multiple warnings from the crew. They verbally abused the crew and co-passengers.

In order to deal withnunruly behaviour, DGCA has issued CAR, Section 3- Air Transport, Series M, and Part VI titled ‘Handling of unruly/ disruptive passengers’.

Read all the Latest India News here