Unruly passenger smashes emergency window, tries to open exit door
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A mid-air accident was narrowly avoided on a Batik Air flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kochi when a passenger allegedly broke an emergency window panel and attempted to forcibly open the emergency exit door during the flight. His actions caused widespread panic among the crew and passengers.
The 36-year-old unruly passenger was subdued by the crew and fellow travellers, and was taken into custody by CISF personnel after the plane landed safely at Cochin International Airport.
The accused, identified as Jamsheer Athanikkal, a native of Palakkad currently living in Sreemoolanagaram, was handed over to the Nedumbassery police, where his arrest was recorded. The incident occurred on Batik Air Flight OD231, a Boeing 737 operating from Kuala Lumpur to Kochi on Wednesday.
According to the FIR, the incident happened while the aircraft was cruising towards Kochi between 9:30 pm and 11:05 pm. Jamsheer, seated in 12A, allegedly began acting erratically before forcefully kicking and breaking the emergency exit window panel.
According to police, Jamsheer attempted to open the emergency exit door despite knowing his actions could endanger the safety of the aircraft and everyone on board. When cabin crew members and fellow passengers tried to restrain him, he allegedly pushed them away and issued verbal threats, causing panic inside the aircraft. The plane landed safely at Cochin airport around 11:10 p.m., where CISF airport security staff took Jamsheer into custody and handed him over to the Nedumbassery police.
The complaint was lodged by security in charge of Batik Air at Cochin airport. Police stated that the passenger may have been under the influence of alcohol or experienced a psychological episode. However, the preliminary probe does not suggest intoxicated behaviour.
Jamsheer has been booked under Section 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (criminal intimidation), Section 11A of the Aircraft Act, 1934 (acts endangering the safety or security of an aircraft and its passengers), and Section 118(e) of the Kerala Police Act, 2011 (knowingly committing an act that causes danger to the public or a failure in public safety).
