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'Hijack!': Man arrested on Vistara Mumbai-Delhi flight after shouting this word
Vistara flight hijack threat: This comes days after a Delhi-Mumbai Vistara service was delayed because a woman overheard a passenger talking about a 'bomb'.
A Mumbai-Delhi Vistara flight was delayed for four hours Thursday after a male passenger had to be deplaned and arrested for shouting 'hijack' just before take-off, prompting a search of the plane as per standard operating procedure (SOP) before fresh clearance for departure.
A Vistara spokesperson cited the SOP and said authorities had been informed immediately and that the passenger - Ritesh Sanjaykumar Juneja - was handed over to them. "A thorough check was conducted and the flight took off with the rest of the customers after clearance."
Police said Juneja was arrested after a complaint from the crew of the flight, which was scheduled to take off from Mumbai at 6.30 pm. The flight left only at 10.30 pm.
"The passenger shouted 'hijack' while the flight was preparing for departure. This led to suspicion and all the passengers had to be de-boarded for a detailed check of the aircraft and the passenger," an official said.
The airline spokesperson said, "We confirm there was an incident concerning an unruly passenger on Vistara flight UK 996 scheduled to operate from Mumbai to Delhi..."
Police said Juneja claimed to be mentally ill.
"He claims to be unstable, due to which he had such a conversation on the flight," a police officer who did not want to be named said.
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The officer also said authorities had registered a case under sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 336 (endangering life or personal safety of others). "We are probing the matter."
The airline said the flight had to be delayed as all passengers had to go through additional checks. Passengers and their handbags were scanned again.
Vistara said it stands firm with its zero-tolerance policy against unruly behaviour that endangers the safety and security of its customers and staff.
