A 36-year-old doctor, Vyas Hiral Mohanbhai, found herself in legal trouble after allegedly causing a disturbance on an Air India flight from Bengaluru to Surat on Tuesday. The incident, which led to a two-hour delay and a significant security scare, unfolded on Air India Flight IX2749 at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).
According to reports, Mohanbhai, an Ayurvedic doctor from Shivanahalli near Yelahanka, bypassed the check-in counter, insisting on carrying two bags onto the aircraft. Upon boarding, she placed one bag in a restricted area near the crew cabin and the other at her designated seat, 20F. When the cabin crew requested she move the bag to the overhead compartment, she refused, demanding they keep it with them.
The situation quickly escalated as Mohanbhai allegedly began to verbally abuse the cabin staff, refusing to cooperate with repeated requests from both the crew and the captain. Fellow passengers who attempted to intervene were also reportedly met with yelling. The situation took a more serious turn when Mohanbhai allegedly threatened to "crash the flight" if the crew moved her baggage.
Faced with the escalating situation, the pilot alerted security personnel. CISF officers boarded the aircraft and removed Mohanbhai from the flight. Agnimitra Bahinipati, Associate Manager of Security at KIA, filed a complaint detailing the incident, which occurred between 2:45 PM and 5:30 PM.
Even after being taken to the KIA police station, Mohanbhai's disruptive behavior allegedly continued. She reportedly persisted in verbally abusing and physically manhandling police officers. One senior officer stated it was the first time they had heard such abusive language in the station.
Mohanbhai's husband, an educator from Odisha, arrived at the police station and informed authorities that his wife had stopped practicing medicine and was traveling to Gujarat to visit family. He also acknowledged that she had a history of causing disturbances in public.
Police have registered a case against Mohanbhai, who faces charges under several sections of the law, including Section 351(4) for criminal intimidation, Section 353(1)(b) for making statements intended to cause public alarm under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and Section 3(1)(a) of the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Civil Aviation Act, which addresses actions that may jeopardize the safety of an aircraft. She was produced before the court and granted bail. Authorities are currently verifying her background and investigating previous incidents.
The incident has raised concerns about passenger behavior and security protocols on flights. It also comes at a sensitive time for the aviation industry, which has recently faced technical issues, bomb threats, delays, and the Air India Dreamliner crash. Authorities are expected to take strict action against anyone who threatens the safety and security of a flight.
