An Indigo flight from Dubai to Kozhikode was diverted to Mumbai on Thursday morning after a passenger started shouting anti-Islamic State slogans.
According to initial reports, the passenger stood up on his seat and started talking about Islamic State and Islamic laws.
Other passengers asked him to calm down, but according to Malayalam media, the irate passenger became more restless and even climbed on the food trolley. With the passenger showing no signs of relenting, the pilot was forced to divert the flight to Mumbai. The aircraft landed in Mumbai at 9.15 am and then took off to Kozhikode at 10.30 am.
The man was detained at Mumbai airport and will be questioned by security agencies.
Mumbai Police spokesperson Ashok Dudhe said the passenger was detained for unruly conduct on the flight but added he did not raise any slogans. He is being questioned.
Indigo in a press statement said:
IndiGo confirms the diversion of its flight 6E 89 (Dubai-Calicut) to Mumbai this morning on grounds of unruly behavior on board. A little before landing, a passenger seated on 5D (who was accompanied by his brother) suddenly started misbehaving with the crew. He jumped on the forward cart (which is used for food and onboard merchandise) and sat on it. The crew immediately informed the Captain-in-command and the lead crew. The lead, politely requested the passenger to step down from the cart and he obliged. This passenger after stepping down from the cart, suddenly got violent and started physically abusing the other co-passenger.
Taking the precautionary measure, the Captain immediately informed the Air Traffic control (ATC) and the ground security staff about the situation onboard. The flight made the precautionary landing at the Mumbai airport where this passenger was handed over to the CISF for further investigations. The matter is now with the local authorities.
Initial reports suggested that the passenger had shouted pro-ISIS slongs, but once the flight landed back in Kozhikode, other passengers confirmed that the man had shouted anti-ISIS slogans.
(With agency inputs)