Chaos on the Tarmac: Unruly Passengers Delay Flight for 7 Hours After Attempting to Storm Cockpit
A SpiceJet flight from Delhi to Mumbai was delayed for over seven hours on Monday after two unruly passengers attempted to storm the cockpit during taxiing, according to reports from Jam Press.
The disruption unfolded as the aircraft was preparing for takeoff. A SpiceJet spokesperson said the pair “forcefully approached the cockpit,” ignoring repeated pleas from cabin crew and fellow passengers to return to their seats.
In the interest of safety, the flight crew made the decision to return to the terminal, where the two men were removed from the plane. The flight, originally scheduled to depart at 12:30 p.m., did not take off until 7:21 p.m.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the incident has once again raised serious concerns over in-flight security and escalating passenger misconduct.
Such events are becoming alarmingly frequent. In April, American Airlines crew members had to restrain a woman who tried to enter the cockpit mid-flight on a New York-bound plane. And just a month earlier, an Ultra Airlines flight attendant suffered a broken leg while subduing a passenger attempting to open an emergency exit during an international flight.
Airlines and regulators continue to grapple with the rise in aggressive passenger behavior that increasingly threatens onboard safety.
