A 36-year-old woman, identified as Dr Vyas Hiral Mohanbhai, was taken into custody by Bengaluru Police following a disruptive incident aboard an Air India Express flight earlier this week. The situation unfolded just before the aircraft was scheduled to depart for Surat International Airport from Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) around 2.30 pm on Tuesday.
According to sources cited by NDTV, the incident began when Dr Mohanbhai left her baggage in the first row of the aircraft and then proceeded to take her assigned seat at 20F. When cabin crew requested that she move her luggage to the overhead compartment near her own seat, she refused to comply and allegedly insisted that the crew relocate the bag for her.
Despite repeated requests from airline staff and intervention from the pilot, Dr Mohanbhai continued to argue and reportedly began misbehaving with the crew, the sources added. Fellow passengers who attempted to calm her were also met with verbal hostility.
The situation escalated dramatically when Dr Mohanbhai allegedly threatened to crash the plane, prompting serious safety concerns. The crew and pilot immediately alerted airport security and CISF personnel, who boarded the aircraft and removed her from the flight. Sources told NDTV that her behaviour posed a potential threat to the safety of other passengers on board.
Following her removal from the aircraft, Dr Mohanbhai was taken to the KIA Police Station, where she allegedly abused and physically assaulted police officers, according to The Times of India. Her husband later informed police that she is no longer practising medicine and currently resides in Shivanahalli, near Yelahanka, Bengaluru.
As reported by The Indian Express, she has been booked under several legal provisions, including Section 351(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (criminal intimidation by anonymous communication), Section 353(1)(b) (statements of public mischief), and Section 3(1)(a) of the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation Act (acts of violence on board an aircraft likely to endanger its safety).
