The Delhi-based airline, Air India, has officially ruled on banning a passenger for 2 years over an in-flight incident that occurred back on April 10. The incident occurred on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner that was flying from Delhi to London. Air India has requested that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the regulatory body of civil aviation in India, add the passenger, Jaskirate Singh Padda, to its no-fly list.
The initial incident
The Air India flight, AI111, was a each day scheduled flight that traveled from Recent Delhi International Airport (DEL) to London Heathrow International Airport (LHR). The Boeing 787 departed at 6:35 am for its eight-and-a-half-hour trip to London. Nevertheless, the plane was forced to show around and land back on the Delhi airport shortly after 9:40 am.
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
The rationale for turning back to the Delhi airport was as a consequence of a passenger exhibiting life-threatening behavior. The airline released an announcement after the incident, stating,
“Air India flight AI 111 scheduled to operate Delhi-London today returned to Delhi shortly after departure as a consequence of the intense unruly behavior of a passenger onboard
Allegedly, a passenger aboard the flight, Jaskirate Singh Padda, attempted to open one in all the aircraft’s doors shortly after takeoff. Nevertheless, a flight attendant intervened and attempted to stop the passenger from touching the door.
This escalated the situation, and Padda began threatening the flight attendant before becoming violent. He hit one in all the flight attendants within the neck, knocking her to the bottom. He then hit one other crew member within the face before being restrained by the remaining of the crew. The crew used restraining devices to maintain Padda in his chair until the plane could land back in Delhi.
Photo: Vytautas Kielaitis | Shutterstock
Shortly after landing, the passenger was handed over to the Delhi police, and an FIR was filed against him by Air India. After the passenger was offloaded to the correct authorities, the plane then took off to London carrying over 220 passengers. In Air India’s statement in regards to the incident, the airline stated,
“Not heeding to verbal and written warnings, the passenger continued with unruly behavior, including causing physical harm to 2 of the cabin crew members. The pilot in command decided to return to Delhi, and the passenger was handed over to the safety personnel upon landing. An FIR has also been lodged with the police.
The ruling by the DGCA
Due to dangerous behavior exhibited by the passenger, Air India has banned Padda from the airline for 2 years. By doing this, the airline has requested that the DGCA put Padda on its no-fly list for the subsequent two years. An official from Air India has said,
“Jaskirat’s unruly and disruptive behavior has also endangered the security of aircraft and individuals onboard AI 111… The inner committee is unanimously of the view that (he) doesn’t deserve any lenient view. Hence, (he) is banned from flying/ taking flights to/ from/ inside India for a period of two years.”
In keeping with officials, in the course of the incident, Padda was not inebriated. His family, nonetheless, claims that he struggles with mental health issues.