Flight to London turns around after passenger 'pulls flight attendant's hair'

10 April 2023 , 14:49

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An Air India flight had to return to Delhi after a passenger attacked cabin crew members (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A flight from Delhi to London was abandoned this morning and forced to return to the Indian airport after a brawl between a passenger and staff.

The 6.45am flight descended into chaos after a man reportedly pulled an air hostess's hair before fighting with crew members.

Flight AI 111 from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport was returned to the runway shortly after departure as a result of the "seriously unruly" behaviour.

After receiving verbal and written warnings, the culprit was removed from the Air India aircraft and handed over to police.

Witnesses on the plane reported seeing a man pull one of the cabin crew's hair just 15 minutes into the flight before attacking other members of staff a short while after.

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Flight AI 111 from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport was returned to the runway shortly after departure (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

It was then that the pilot stepped in and decided to return to the airport to have the main removed, MailOnline reports.

The u-turn flight later took off to London eight hours later at around 2.25pm.

A spokesman for Air India said: "Air India flight AI 111 scheduled to operate Delhi-London Heathrow on April 10, 2023 returned to Delhi shortly after departure due to the serious unruly behaviour of a passenger on board.

"Not heeding verbal and written warnings, the passenger continued with unruly behaviour including causing physical harm to two of the cabin crew members.

"The pilot in command decided to return to Delhi and the passenger was handed over to the security personnel upon landing.'

The passenger was removed from the flight and handed over to the police (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

"An FIR [first information report] has also been lodged with the police. Safety, security and dignity of all on board is important to us at Air India."

"We are providing all possible support to the affected crew members. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers and have rescheduled the flight."

Air India hit headlines again last month after a passenger on one of its flights from Mumbai to London was caught smoking in the toilets.

While in November, passenger Shankar Mishra was accused of drunkenly urinating on an elderly woman on an Air India flight from New York to Delhi - he has denied the incident.

Sean McPolin