An Air India 787-8 was forced to divert after a deranged man onboard pulled the hair of a female flight attendant then attacked other cabin crew members shortly after takeoff.
Man Attacks Cabin Crew On Air India 787-9 Dreamliner, Pulling Hair Of Female Flight Attendant
Air India flight 111, traveling from New Delhi (DEL) to London (LHR) took off on time this morning at just before 7:00 am local time. But minutes after takeoff, a male passenger onboard the Boeing 787-8 went crazy, attacking a female flight attendant by pulling her hair and then attacking other member of the cabin when they intervened.
It was not clear what triggered this event (seems a bit early for alcohol) or how it escalated so quickly, but the incident purportedly occurred only 15 minutes after takeoff. Even after the incident, the the passenger was provided verbal and written warnings but even then would not calm down. That prompted the captain to return to Delhi. Air India released the following statement:
Air India flight AI 111 scheduled to operate Delhi-London Heathrow on April 10, 2023 returned to Delhi shortly after departure due to the serious unruly behaviour of a passenger on board. Not heeding to verbal and written warnings, the passenger continued with unruly behaviour including causing physical harm to two of the cabin crew members. The pilot in command decided to return to Delhi and the passenger was handed over to the security personnel upon landing.
Police met the aircraft in Delhi and removed the man. He has not yet been identified. Air India added:
An FIR has also been lodged with the police. Safety, security and dignity of all on board is important to us at Air India. We are providing all possible support to the affected crew members. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers and have rescheduled the flight to depart for London this afternoon.
FIR is a first information report. A delayed AI111 took off for London once again at 2:24 pm.
CONCLUSION
We’ll see if photos and video emerge of the incident, but the fact that the flight diverted and two flight attendants are said to be injured is sobering enough. Such intolerable behavior should be met with the full brunt of the law.
image: BriYYZ / WikiMedia Commons
Guess it didn’t go like this.. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqdcAxWDhVB, lol
Unfortunately for the passengers, no UK261 compensation is due as they were on a non-UK carrier inbound rather than if it had happened on BA/VS where they could have claimed up to £520 for the delay.
Is it necessary to say female flight attendant when the sex of the injured person is not germane to the situation? That’s like calling someone a lady doctor or manageress.