Mumbai: A case has been registered against a US national for allegedly smoking in the bathroom and misbehaving with other passengers on Air India’s London-Mumbai flight. According to the Mumbai Police, a case has been registered against 37-year-old Ramakant at Sahar police station for causing inconvenience in the middle of a flight on March 11.
He further said that a case has been registered under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 336 (Whoever so rashly or negligently endangers human life or personal safety of others) and the Aircraft Act 1937, 22. legal instructions given by the pilot-in-command), 23 (assault and other acts prejudicial to safety or endangering good order and discipline) and 25 (for smoking).
What did the crew member of Air India say
“Smoking is not allowed in the flight but as soon as he went to the bathroom the alarm started ringing and when we all the crew ran towards the bathroom we saw that he had a cigarette in his hand. We immediately threw the cigarette from his hand. Then Ramakant started Went.” We were yelling at all the crew members. Somehow we took him to his seat. But after some time he tried to open the door of the aircraft. His behavior scared all the passengers and he started a drama in flight. He was not ready to listen to us and was shouting. Then we tied his hands and legs and made him sit on the seat,” Sahar, an Air India crew member told the police.
According to the police, “one of the passengers was a doctor. He came and examined her. Then Ramakant said that there is some medicine in his bag, we did not find it but on checking the bag, an e-cigarette was found.
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US national booked under various sections of IPC
After the flight landed, the passenger, Ramakant, was handed over to the Sahar police, where he was taken into custody and booked under various sections of the IPC. “We have sent the sample of the accused for medical examination to confirm whether he was in an inebriated state or mentally disturbed,” police said.
He also confirmed that the accused is of Indian origin but a citizen of the United States of America and holds a US passport.
(With inputs from ANI)