CHENNAI- On December 23, 2023, according to reports from DT Next, on a flight operated by Indigo Airlines (6E) from Muscat (MCT) to Chennai (MAA), a 35-year-old man named Mohamed Salim was apprehended by the police for smoking a cigarette inside the aircraft.
The incident occurred midair as the flight, with 168 passengers on board, observed Salim clandestinely extracting a cigarette from his attire and engaging in smoking.
IndiGo Passenger Detained at Chennai
Despite objections from fellow passengers and cabin crew members, Salim exhibited unresponsiveness and became involved in a verbal dispute.
Observing the disruptive behavior, fellow passengers raised the alarm with the pilot, prompting notification of the Chennai airport control room.
The aircraft touched down at Chennai airport at 8 am, and security officials swiftly apprehended Salim. During questioning, Salim stated that he was a habitual smoker, insisting that he could not refrain from smoking, according to reports from DT.
Despite his explanation, the Chennai airport police arrested him; additional investigations are underway.
Terminal 4 Operation
In an effort to improve passenger convenience, Air India Express (IX) flights have started operating from Chennai airport’s second domestic terminal. This initiative comes after the prior deployment of Air India flights from the T4 terminal, and Vistara Airlines (UK) is scheduled to relocate its operations to T4 starting Wednesday.
This strategic decision aims to ease congestion in the T1 terminal, considering Chennai airport’s standing as one of the busiest in India, overseeing an average of 400 daily flights and catering to approximately 60,000 passengers.
As authorities tackle instances of disruptions during flights and enact measures to enhance the efficiency of airport operations, these events underscore the difficulties encountered in upholding order and smooth functioning within the dynamic aviation sector.
Similar Incident
In August 2022, Netizens shared a Twitter video showing a passenger smoking in a Spicejet plane. The person is laid down in their seat and is seen lighting their cigarette on the airborne flight.
According to a source, a passenger named Balvinder Kataria, traveling from Dubai to Delhi on a SpiceJet flight, recorded this video.
The viral video shared by netizens is dated back to 23 Jan 2022, and a regulatory authority has taken necessary action.
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