A 36‑year‑old doctor was arrested on Tuesday after causing a commotion aboard an Air India Express flight from Bengaluru to Surat. The passenger, identified as Vyas Hiral Mohanbhai, allegedly threatened to crash the aircraft when the cabin crew objected to her placing a piece of baggage in a restricted area near the crew cabin, reported Times of India. The incident delayed the flight by nearly two hours and triggered a serious security scare.
What happened onboard?
Mohanbhai, an Ayurvedic doctor from Shivanahalli near Yelahanka, was travelling alone with two bags. According to police, she bypassed the check‑in counter, insisting on carrying both pieces of baggage onboard. After boarding AI Flight IX2749, she placed one bag near the crew area and took the other to her seat at 20F. When a crew member requested that she move the bag to an overhead compartment, she refused, demanding that the crew keep it with them.
As the situation escalated, the doctor allegedly hurled abuse at the cabin staff and refused to cooperate despite repeated requests from the crew and the captain. Fellow passengers tried to intervene, but she reportedly yelled at them as well. At one point, she threatened to crash the flight if the crew tried to move her bag.
The scene became so tense that the pilot alerted security personnel. CISF officers boarded the aircraft and offloaded Mohanbhai. The incident occurred between 2:45 PM and 5:30 PM, as confirmed by Agnimitra Bahinipati, associate manager of security at Kempegowda International Airport.
Drama at the police station
Even after being taken to the KIA police station, Mohanbhai allegedly continued to abuse and assault officers. “This was the first time we heard such abusive language in the station,” said a senior police officer. Her husband, an educator from Odisha, later arrived at the station, telling authorities that she had stopped practicing medicine and was traveling to Gujarat to visit her family. According to him, she had a history of creating disturbances in public spaces.
Police investigation underway
Police are verifying Mohanbhai’s background and past incidents. The doctor remains in custody as authorities review evidence and statements from crew and passengers.