Chennai: Drama ensued at domestic terminal of the city airport on Monday after a passenger assaulted at least six persons including security personnel, airport staff and passengers after an argument. Two flights had a delayed departure because of the incident.
Police investigations revealed that the passenger, Subhadutt Nath, 28, was under medication for mental health issues.
A resident of Kolkata, Nath, and his wife had come to Tamil Nadu a fortnight ago for treatment at the Christian Medical College Hospital in Vellore. After treatment, the couple was supposed to fly back to West Bengal on Monday.
After treatment, the couple was supposed to fly back to West Bengal on Monday. They were to travel by a SpiceJet flight supposed to leave at 2.50 pm, airport sources said.
After checking into the airport, the man however went to gate no. 3 instead of gate no. 5. The CISF men on security detail informed the passenger that he was on the wrong gate and asked him to check into gate no. 5. Nath, however, insisted that he was at the right gate and picked up an argument with CISF men. All of a sudden, he started assaulting them and hit the airline staff and two passengers who attempted to pacify him.
He was pinned to the ground and later handed over to the Airport police. His wife shared with the cops that he was under medication and pleaded with the authorities to drop charges. After learning this, those who were attacked also chose not to proceed with the complaint, police said.
The flights to Kolkata and Coimbatore, supposed to depart before 3 pm, had a delayed start because of this. Much to the chagrin of the couple, they were denied travel as the passenger was suffering from mental health issues. Cops suggested the couple travel by train.
