Mumbai: A Mumbai-based actor and her mother were offloaded from a SpiceJet flight from Delhi to Mumbai for allegedly causing disruption and trying to enter the cockpit before take-off. The duo created a scene due to non-functional air conditioners in the flight and asked the crew to stop the aircraft from flying, which also resulted in the flight getting delayed.
On Tuesday, SpiceJet’s flight SG-9282 was significantly delayed after two passengers demanded the crew to stop the flight while it was taxiing for take-off. According to SpiceJet, the two “unruly passengers” were offloaded from the flight after they attempted to forcefully approach the cockpit and caused a disruption.
The passengers, identified as Alika Nair, a Mumbai-based TV actor, and her mother Yachna Nair had complained to the crew about non-functional AC in the aircraft before more than half hour of take-off. In a video which went viral on Instagram, the duo is seen arguing with flight attendants about the AC and can be seen getting up from their seats asking the crew to stop the aircraft, while it was taxiing towards the runway.
In the video, a few of the passengers, along with the crew can be seen asking the duo to calm down but they allegedly tried to approach the cockpit and refused to return to their seats upon repeated requests.
A call was also made by the captain through the aircraft’s announcement system asking the passengers to return to their seats. As they refused to settle down, the aircraft was returned to the bay and both the passengers were offloaded from the flight and handed over to the central industrial police force (CISF).
The incident caused an almost seven-hour delay to the flight. According to Flightradar24, the flight was scheduled to depart at 12.30pm but actually departed at 7.21pm and landed at 9.05pm.
“Despite repeated requests by the cabin crew, fellow passengers, and the Captain, they refused to return to their seats. In the interest of the safety of all passengers and crew, the Captain decided to return the aircraft to the bay, and the passengers were offloaded. They were subsequently handed over to the CISF,” said a SpiceJet spokesperson.
