Mid-air chaos as passengers altercation disrupts Air India flight from Amritsar to Delhi

The airline said its crew reacted swiftly to de-escalate the situation, moving the affected passenger to the business class.

Air India on June 28 reported an incident of unruly behaviour involving two passengers aboard flight AI 454 flying from Amritsar to Delhi, leading to the intervention of cabin crew and airport security.

The mid-air fight began just before landing, when the crew witnessed two passengers in a verbal altercation. "During cabin preparations for landing, a member of our cabin crew noticed a passenger standing in the aisle, engaged in a verbal altercation with another passenger. The second passenger reported to the crew that the individual was being abusive," the airline said.

The airline said its crew reacted swiftly to de-escalate the situation, moving the affected passenger to the business class.

Soon after landing at the Delhi airport, the airline handed over the disruptive individual to airport security for further investigation.

"Our cabin crew immediately de-escalated the situation by relocating the second passenger to a business-class seat for the duration of the landing. Following a complaint by the second passenger, the pilot-in-command notified our security team on the ground about the situation, who were present upon the flight's arrival in Delhi. The disruptive passenger was handed over to the airport security for further investigation," the airline said.

Air India maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards disruptive behaviour and prioritises the safety and well-being of all passengers and crew," a spokesperson said. "We will fully cooperate with the relevant authorities, and the matter is now under their purview," the airline added.

In line with guidelines set by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), airlines are required to take such incidents seriously. Under DGCA norms, carriers must establish an internal committee to investigate the matter and determine any necessary action, including the possibility of placing the passenger on India's no-fly list.

With ANI inputs