A 30-year-old Bangladeshi man identified as Mohammad Dulal was arrested after flashing and attempting to masturbate in front of a flight attendant on a Vistara flight from Muscat to Mumbai on September 7. The accused, Mohammed Dulal, was arrested after the flight landed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai.
As per the reports, the incident unfolded just 30 minutes before the scheduled landing of the flight (UK234) at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai at 4:25 a.m. on September 7. Dulal, who was initially on his way to catch a connecting flight to Dhaka, was held by authorities upon arrival. He was handed over to Sahar police following his arrest.
What said the victim?
Dulal was arrested following a complaint filed by a 22-year-old flight attendant, who claimed the accused had made inappropriate advances towards her, including attempting to kiss her and exposing himself.
When the flight supervisor and other passengers intervened, he continued his unruly behaviour, disregarding the captain’s warnings as well, the complaint said.
Further recounting her ordeal, the flight attendant said that she was collecting food trays from passengers when she noticed the accused flyer was signalling her.
“After collecting the food tray from the accused in seat no 19-E, I pushed the trolley to go ahead… the accused jumped from his seat, and over a passenger, and stood in front of the trolley. I was left in shock when suddenly he hugged me and tried to kiss me,” the complaint read.
The victim called her male colleague to her aid, and with the help of other passengers, they managed to subdue Dulal.
However, he persisted in his indecent behaviour and used offensive language when instructed to remain seated. The flight captain ultimately declared him an unruly passenger and issued a Red Warning Card, the victim said in her complaint.
What said the police?
A Sahar police station officer stated, “Dulal was arrested based on the complaint from the 22-year-old flight attendant for hugging her and trying to kiss her onboard. He even flashed at a flight supervisor and other onboard passengers when they intervened. He did not listen to the captain who read out the Red Warning Card and declared him an unruly passenger for not obeying warnings.”
Police revealed, “Dulal who had held the victim’s left hand tightly was subdued with the help of other onboard passengers.”
After the arrest, Dulal was presented before an Andheri Court. His defence attorney argued that Dulal suffered from a mental disorder and had difficulty understanding English and Hindi. The lawyer asserted that his client was falsely accused due to his mental condition and language limitations. However, the court decided to remand Dulal to police custody until September 8.
Unfortunately, this is the twelfth reported case of unruly passenger behaviour in Mumbai in the year 2023 alone, highlighting a growing concern within the aviation industry. There have been a total of 23 instances reported between 2017 and 2023 as of 7 September.
What said Vistara?
Vistara released a statement which read, “An incident regarding an unruly passenger was reported on Vistara flight UK 234 operating from Muscat to Mumbai on 6 September 2023. Given the gross misconduct, the captain issued a warning letter and decided to restrain the customer. By the guidelines and our stringent standard operating procedures (SOPs), the security agencies on the ground were informed to take immediate action upon arrival.”
It further added, “The customer has been taken into custody for further investigation by the security agency at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai. The incident is being reported to the local authorities as per the SOPs. Vistara stands firm with its zero-tolerance policy against unruly behaviour that endangers the safety, security, and dignity of its customers and staff.”
