Mumbai Police on Sunday booked an American national for allegedly misbehaving with other passengers and smoking in the toilet on a London-Mumbai Air India flight. Mumbai’s Sahar police station took 37-year-old Ramakant into custody for allegedly obstructing an aircraft on March 11.
According to the Mumbai Police, under section 336 (whoever so rashly or negligently endangers human life or the personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Aircraft Act 1937, 22 (refusal to disembark) Case has been registered. obey a lawful instruction given by the pilot-in-command), 23 (assault and other act prejudicial to safety or endangering good order and discipline) and 25 (for smoking).
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“Smoking is not allowed in the flight, but as soon as he went to the bathroom, the alarm went off 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 out of his hand.” Then Ramakant started shouting at all our 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 the flight. Air India crew member told Sahar police that he was not ready to listen to us and was shouting. Then we tied his hands and feet and made him sit on the seat. The accused passenger also did not stop and started banging his head.
Police said, “One of the passengers was a doctor. He came and examined him. Then Ramakant said that he had some medicine in his bag, we did not find any medicine, but on checking the bag an e-cigarette was found.” Passenger Ramakant was handed over to the Sahar police after the flight landed.
Where he was taken into custody and a case was registered under various sections of the IPC. Police said the accused is of Indian origin but is a citizen of the United States of America and holds a US passport. Police added. Further details are awaited.
(With ANI inputs)