Flyer loses cool over ‘missing’ passport, hits airline officials

MUMBAI: A flyer was detained by security officials after he allegedly manhandled two Jet Airways staffers on Monday morning following an altercation over his "missing" passport. The passenger reportedly slapped one of the staffers and pushed the other one in the arrival hall at Mumbai airport, officials at the airport said.

The incident took place around 10am after the 23-year-old passenger landed on a Jet Airways flight from Riyadh. He reached the arrival hall and picked up his luggage from the conveyor belt only to realize that his passport was not with him. He enquired with two airline staffers, who had earlier taken his passport for checking.

"He insisted that they hadn't returned the passport. The two staffers told him that his passport was given back to him right after they checked it, but he persisted," said an airport official.

The matter took a turn for worse when the passenger lost his cool and allegedly slapped one of the staffers, said officials. "When the other official tried to intervene, he pushed him," said an airport source.

The airline immediately alerted the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). The security officials reached the spot and detained the passenger. On checking, the CISF reportedly found the passport in one of the pockets in the passenger's bag. He was later handed over to the local police. Officials said the passenger was supposed to take another flight to Kolkata.

Local police said no case had been registered. Jet Airways did not respond to the query. Airport officials said many cases of manhandling by passengers have been reported. "Last month, a passenger was arrested for assaulting an airline official," said an official at the international airport. "Most incidents, however, happen during major flight delays," he added.

Source:   http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com