A mid-air altercation on Air India flight AI-837 from Delhi to Lucknow led to the detention of passenger Samad Ali after he clashed with Amethi MLA Rakesh Pratap Singh over alleged use of abusive language, police said Wednesday. The incident, occurring Tuesday evening, underscores rising tensions over passenger conduct on domestic flights, with authorities now investigating the episode that disrupted the roughly 90-minute journey carrying approximately 180 passengers.

The confrontation began when Singh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator from Gauriganj in Amethi, objected to Ali, a resident of Rajjipur village in Fatehpur, reportedly shouting expletives during a phone call. Singh told reporters at Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, “Despite objections from fellow travellers, he continued with derogatory words unacceptable in any civil society.

When I intervened, he misbehaved with me too.” The situation escalated, requiring cabin crew to physically separate the two to prevent further disruption, according to an airline source. The flight landed without further incident around 8:30 PM.

Singh promptly filed a complaint at Sarojininagar Police Station, resulting in an FIR against Ali under Indian Penal Code sections for public nuisance (Section 268) and obscene language (Section 294), alongside Aircraft Rules, 1937, violations for endangering flight safety. Ali was detained for questioning, with police reviewing passenger statements and airport CCTV to corroborate accounts. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) notes a 15% rise in unruly passenger incidents in 2024, often linked to stress or cultural misunderstandings in confined spaces.

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“The Constitution grants freedom, but not to infringe on others’ dignity,” Singh emphasised, framing the incident as a call for civility. Air India has pledged cooperation with the ongoing probe, which may lead to fines or a no-fly ban for Ali under DGCA guidelines mandating zero tolerance for onboard disruptions. The case highlights broader challenges in maintaining decorum on India’s busy domestic routes, especially connecting political hubs like Lucknow, as authorities work to balance free expression with public order in high-pressure environments.

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