Air India pilot refuses to fly, seeks arrest of passenger

Patna,(BiharTimes): Air India crew on Friday refused to fly the plane unless a heart patient who had travelled to Patna by New Delhi-Patna (AI-415) flight was arrestd on charges of unruly behaviour with an air hostess.

The drama in fact began even before the flight departed from New Delhi.

This delayed the departure of the return flight to the national capital. The said aircraft left here at 9:16 PM against its schedule departure of 8:40 PM.

According to reports Ashish Ranjan, chief officer in merchant navy, who is under treatment of Dr Naresh Trehan in New Delhi felt suffocated on boarding the plane in the national capital as the in-flight air-conditioning system was reportedly switched off.

He called for cabin crew who did not respond till about 30 mintes of take off from New Delhi.

Then again when the aircraft was at the height of 36,000 feet above sea-level Ranjan wanted to use the washroom. He was, however, prevented by the cabin crew as snacks were being served. This followed a wordy duel.

“I was told by the airhostess that it was against regulation to use washroom when snacks are being served. I asked her where the regulations were when none attended to my call for 30 minutes (in New Delhi). I even showed her the indicator light, which was still on. But realizing that there was no point arguing with an airhostess I went back and sat on my seat till the crew was done with the service. Soon after Captain Rahul Singh came out of the cockpit and began threatening me that he would divert the flight to Lucknow and could have me arrested even as I sat quietly,” Ranjan was quoted in Hindustan Times.

When the flight landed in Patna the pilot along with two air hostesses came to the terminal building and held firm on not flying till the passenger was arrested.

Subsequently, police was called and a complaint was lodged by the pilot. Ranjan too filed a counter complaint. None from Air India was ready to complaint.

However, several passengers were upset over the behaviour of the crew members.