A 36-year-old doctor, Dr. Vyas Hiral Mohanbhai, was removed from an Air India Express flight from Bengaluru to Surat on June 17 after allegedly threatening to crash the plane during a heated dispute with cabin crew over cabin baggage. The confrontation began when she left one bag near the crew’s cabin and refused crew instructions to stow it overhead.

The situation escalated as Dr. Mohanbhai refused repeated requests from both the cabin crew and the captain to follow protocol. She reportedly became verbally abusive, shouting at passengers and crew, and at one point threatened, “Keep my bag or I’ll crash the plane,” according to eyewitnesses. Concerned for the safety of those onboard, the captain alerted security officials.

CISF personnel met the aircraft at Kempegowda International Airport, and Dr. Mohanbhai was escorted off and arrested. The incident caused a two-hour delay and heightened anxiety, as it followed closely on the heels of the Air India Flight 171 disaster in Ahmedabad, which killed at least 270 people.

At the police station, she continued to display disruptive behavior, verbally abusing and physically manhandling officers. Authorities are reviewing her background and previous public disturbances, while fellow passengers, though shaken, reported no physical injuries.