Nepal man smokes onboard Air India flight, abuses crew, smashes toilet door

Yet again, in a recent bizarre incident on an Air India flight, things went off the rails when a passenger decided to turn into a real-life troublemaker. A Nepali national, identified as Mahesh Singh Pandit, on flight AI 188, from Toronto to New Delhi (July 10) allegedly hurled abuses at the crew and damaged one of the lavatory doors onboard, reported ANI.

This passenger seemed determined to create chaos and discomfort for everyone in the 13-hour-long flight.

How did it start?

• The trouble began when the passenger unleashed a torrent of verbal abuse on the cabin crew in the economy class cabin after swapping seats from 26E to 26F.
• The exact reason for the abuses is unknown.
• Sensing trouble, the pilot was promptly informed and gave the passenger a stern verbal warning.
• Surprisingly, he listened and kept calm for a while.

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It didn't end there

• As if abusing the crew wasn't enough, this passenger had a brilliant idea post-lunch.
• The crew was startled when a smoke alarm went off soon after.
• Curious to investigate, a flight attendant opened the lavatory door and, lo and behold, found the same troublemaker inside, with a cigarette lighter and the distinct smell of smoke wafting through the air.

Situation took a nosedive

• Caught red-handed smoking in the lavatory, the passenger didn't go down without a fight!
• When the flight attendant tried to intervene, the passenger decided to play a game of push-and-shove to sprint back to his seat, even resorting to verbal abuse at the attendant.
• While trying to evade the scene, he broke the lavatory door.

Aftermath

• Not content with harassing the crew, he even had the audacity to physically threaten other passengers who tried to tame him.
• Thankfully, 10 passengers and two cabin crew members teamed up to finally restrain the troublemaker, but not without a struggle.
• Cabin Supervisor, in the FIR statement, said, 

• Upon arrival In New Delhi, a case was registered with the Delhi Police under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt)/506 (criminal intimidation)/336 (endangering human life) of the Indian Penal Code and 22,23,25 Aircraft rules at IGI Police station.

Well, it seems like we, now have another chapter in the growing book of bizarre incidents on Indian flights.