Man Detained for Smoking on Indigo Flight from Delhi to Pune

Pune, 11th September 2024: A 38-year-old man was detained early Monday morning after allegedly smoking a cigarette on board an Indigo flight from Delhi to Pune.

The incident took place around 12:30 am, and the passenger was taken into custody upon landing in Pune around 1:30 am. He was released a few hours later after being issued a notice by the Airport police, instructing him to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

Authorities are still investigating how the man managed to bring a lighter on the flight, despite strict security measures at airports. An IndiGo spokesperson confirmed the incident, with airline sources reporting that the man displayed unruly behavior during the flight.

“The passenger was handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) after his arrival, and we escorted him to the police station as per the airline’s request,” said a CISF official familiar with the situation.

The case was registered based on a complaint from IndiGo’s security executive, Pratik Pawale, 31. The passenger has been charged under Section 125 of the Aircraft Act, which deals with actions endangering the safety of others, along with other relevant provisions of the Aircraft Rules.

Police Inspector Sarjerao Kumbhar of the Airport Police Station provided further details, saying, “The passenger, a resident of Baner, Pune, was caught smoking in the plane’s lavatory by a flight attendant. When questioned, he admitted to the act, and the cabin crew also discovered the cigarette butt in the washroom’s trash bin.”

Kumbhar added that the lighter used by the passenger had been seized as evidence. The man had reportedly been in Delhi for personal reasons and was returning to Pune when the incident occurred.

Smoking on flights is a serious violation of aviation safety rules, and airlines are required to report such incidents to the authorities immediately. The investigation is ongoing, and further action will depend on the findings of the inquiry.