Passenger disrupts Air India flight, damages window, and assaults crew; placed on no-fly list

On a recent Air India flight (AI-1879) from Chandigarh to Delhi, a passenger created a mid-air commotion, damaging the window and misbehaving with the crew. The incident occurred last Sunday, and the crew managed to restrain the individual, ensuring the flight landed safely at Delhi Airport.

Upon landing, the passenger was handed over to security agencies. Reports indicate that the individual attempted to flee from police custody at Terminal-3 of Delhi Airport but was apprehended by CISF's QRT. The passenger's family, who were present at the airport, stated that he suffers from a mental illness. Medical tests later confirmed this claim, and he was allowed to leave with his family after being deemed unfit to travel further.

Following the incident, the passenger was placed on a no-fly list for 30 days. A report has been submitted to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which may extend the ban to six months. An Air India spokesperson confirmed that the cockpit crew followed standard operating procedures (SOPs) and emphasized the airline's zero-tolerance policy towards disruptive behavior.

Aviation expert Ashwini Khanna explained that aircraft windows consist of two layers, with the inner layer made of plastic and the outer one being glass, making it difficult to break. Such actions are considered criminal offenses, and details of offenders are shared across airlines to prevent future bookings.