London flight forced to return to Delhi after ‘passenger pulled cabin crew’s hair and had a fight with staff’
- It is understood that the male passenger had her hair pulled 15 minutes after take-off
- Air India said the pilot had returned to Delhi and the passenger had been handed over to security
A flight bound for London Heathrow this morning was forced to return to Delhi after a passenger reportedly began pulling the hair of a cabin crew member before a fight with staff.
Flight AI 111 departed Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at 6.35am local time, but was forced to turn back shortly after departure due to “disruptive and dangerous behavior of a passenger on board”.
The passenger was immediately removed from the Indian Airlines plane before he was handed over to the police at the airport.
Hindustan Times Reports indicate that the man began pulling the hair of a cabin crew member 15 minutes after takeoff, while later attacking other cabin crew members.
Air India said that despite receiving verbal and written warnings, the passenger continued to cause “physical harm” to members of the cabin crew.
Air India Flight AI 111 departed Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at 6.35am local time, but was forced to turn back shortly after departure due to “dangerous disorderly conduct of a passenger on board”. (File photo of an Air India plane)
In the end, the pilot decided the only thing left was to fly back to Delhi and remove the man from the flight.
Crew members attacked by the passenger are now being supported by the airline – which has said “safety, security and dignity” on board is vital.
Air India confirmed to MailOnline that the flight later took off for London at 2.24pm local time.
An Air India spokesperson said: ‘Air India flight AI 111 scheduled to operate between Delhi and London Heathrow on 10 April 2023 returned to Delhi shortly after departure due to gross disorderly conduct of a passenger on board.
Not heeding the verbal and written warnings, the passenger continued his unruly behavior including causing bodily harm to two cabin crew members.
“The pilot in charge decided to return to Delhi and the passenger was handed over to security personnel upon landing.”
They added: ‘A first information report (FIR) has been filed with the police. The safety, security and dignity of all passengers on board is important to us at Air India.
Air India confirmed to MailOnline that the flight later took off for London at 2.24pm local time. Pictured: Heathrow Airport
We are providing all possible support to the affected crew members. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers and have rescheduled the flight…”
Just last month, a passenger traveling from London to Mumbai was caught smoking in the toilets of an Indian Airlines flight.
While in November, passenger Shankar Mishra was accused of drunkenly urinating on an elderly woman on an Air India flight from New York to Delhi – something he denied doing.
