A “DRUNK” student has been arrested after allegedly urinating on a sleeping passenger in business class on a flight.
US college student Aryan Vohra, a 21-year-old Indian national, was on an American Airlines flight from New York to Delhi on Saturday.
He was met by police when flight AA 292 from JFK landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday evening local time.
It is thought he had been travelling to India to attend his sister’s wedding.
American Airlines said in a statement that Mr Vohra was “heavily intoxicated” and had ignored instructions from the crew.
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The statement said: “He was repeatedly arguing with the operating crew, was not willing to be seated, and continuously endangering the safety of the crew and aircraft and after disturbing (the) safety of fellow passengers finally urinated on (a passenger) in 15G.”
According to the official complaint filed by the airline to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, seen by The Hindu, Mr Vohra allegedly misbehaved with a female co-passenger who complained that he was leaning on her.
It’s also claimed he nearly sat on an infant on a different seat before the mum pushed him away.
He is then said to have urinated on a sleeping fellow passenger.
The pilot had radioed ahead in order to warn the airport security about the unruly passenger.
He is said to have continued to “misbehave” after being led from the plane by security personnel, the airport’s deputy chief of police Devesh Kumar Mahla said.
Mr Mahla added that “the strongest possible action” would be taken against the passenger as a deterrent to other travellers.
The victim, a US citizen, did not make a complaint with the cops, Mr Mahla said.
Mr Vohra is believed to have apologised to the victim and begged them not to make a complaint when he realised what he had done.
Despite that, Mr Mahla said the suspect would still be prosecuted for “endangering flight safety” under India’s Civil Aviation Act.
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Mr Vohra was handed over to Delhi Police before he was released on Sunday afternoon.
A spokesperson for American Airlines said: “American Airlines flight 292 from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) was met by local law enforcement upon arrival in Delhi due to a disruptive customer.
“We’re grateful to our crew members who are consistently dedicated to the safety and care of our customers and handled the circumstances with the utmost professionalism.”
American Airlines cancelled Mr Vohra’s return ticket and have barred him from flying with the airline.
It is the third case of its kind involving Indian flyers in around four months, according to The Times of India.
Two similar incidents had been reported aboard an Air India flight each in November and December.
The airline received heavy fines after it did not report in the incidents to the regulatory agencies.
