Pune: In a serious breach of aviation safety rules, Pune Police arrested a passenger for smoking a cigarette in the lavatory of an Indigo Airlines flight en route from Delhi to Pune.
The passenger, identified as Naqshab Jahangir, 38, from Rose Apartment, Okhla Vihar, New Delhi, was found with a lighter, which had bypassed pre-flight security checks.
The incident occurred aboard Indigo flight number 2618. Despite the no-smoking policy and clear announcements made before the flight, Jahangir lit a cigarette while the plane was airborne.
The cabin crew, consisting of attendants Ginny Sachdev and Neelima, discovered Jahangir smoking in the lavatory and immediately alerted the captain of the flight.
The captain promptly informed Tushar Andhare, the Security Manager at Pune Airport. Upon landing at Pune Airport at 1:00 AM, a team comprising Indigo security executive Pratik Pawale and Pune Police boarded the aircraft. Jahangir was detained, and a search revealed a lighter in his possession, which was confiscated by the authorities.
Smoking on flights poses a significant safety risk due to the enclosed space and flammable materials on board. Indigo Airlines emphasized the importance of adhering to all safety regulations and expressed gratitude to their staff for swiftly managing the situation.
Pune Police have registered a case against Naqshab Jahangir, and further investigation is being conducted by Police Sub-Inspector Navnath Kshirsagar.
