US man smokes, misbehaves on Mumbai bound Air India flight, booked

A United States citizen of Indian origin has been accused of smoking mid-air in the lavatory of an Air India flight from London to Mumbai on Friday and misbehaving with fellow passengers and crew members.

Thirty-seven-year-old Ramakant was booked by the Sahara police station in Mumbai for his actions. According to the Mumbai Police, a case was registered under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 336 (whoever does any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life or the personal safety of others) and the Aircraft Act, 1937, 22 (refuses to obey the lawful direction of the commander aircraft), 23 (assault and other acts endangering security or endangering order and discipline) and 25 (smoking).

WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE FLIGHT

“Smoking is not allowed on planes, but when he went to the washroom, an alarm went off and the crew ran towards the washroom to find him holding a cigarette. We immediately threw the cigarette away,” an Air India crew member told Sahara Police, “Then Ramakant started shouting at all our crew members. Somehow we took him to his place. But after some time, he tried to open the door of the plane. All the passengers were frightened by his behavior and he began to behave in a trick way in the flight. He was not ready to listen to us and shouted. Then we tied his hands and feet and put him on the seat,” the crew member added.

Police said the accused passenger did not even stop and started beating his head. “One person among the passengers was a doctor. He came and checked him. After that, Ramakant said he had some medicines in his bag. We did not find any, but an e-cigarette was found on checking the bag,” police added.

After landing, passenger Ramkant was handed over to the Sahara Police, where he was detained and charged under several sections of the IPC. According to authorities, the suspect is of Indian origin but holds an American passport and is a citizen of the United States of America. “We have sent the accused's sample for medical examination to confirm whether he was in an inebriated state or mentally disturbed,” the police added.

AIR INDIA CONFIRMS INCIDENT, ASSURANCES COOPERATION DURING PROBE

An Air India spokesperson confirmed the incident and said: “A passenger on our flight AI130, which flew from London to Mumbai on March 10, was found smoking in the toilet. Subsequently, despite repeated warnings, he behaved unruly and aggressively.”

To ensure cooperation during the investigation, he said, “He was handed over to the security personnel after the plane arrived in Mumbai. The regulator was duly informed about the incident. We are extending all cooperation in the ongoing investigations.”

“Air India maintains a zero-tolerance policy for any behaviour that threatens the safety and security of passengers and staff,” the spokesperson said.