KOCHI: A passenger travelling on a Kuala Lumpur-Kochi flight was arrested after he allegedly tried to force open the aircraft’s emergency exit mid-air, damaging its window panel and triggering panic among fellow passengers, police said Thursday.Jamsheer Athanikkal (36), a native of Koottanad in Palakkad district who works at a hotel in Malaysia, was travelling on Batik Air flight OD 231 when the incident occurred between 9.30 pm and 11.05 pm on Wednesday, according to the FIR.Cabin crew and fellow passengers restrained him before he could cause further damage, police said. He has also been accused of threatening co-passengers during the flight.The aircraft landed at Cochin International Airport at 2.40 am on Thursday, where CISF personnel detained Athanikkal before handing him over to Nedumbassery police.The FIR states that Athanikkal was aware his actions could endanger the aircraft and put the lives of passengers and crew at risk.Police said a preliminary medical examination showed he was not under the influence of alcohol at the time. He was to be produced before a court later on Thursday.The case was registered on a complaint filed by Batik Air’s security in-charge, under Section 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for criminal intimidation, Section 11A of the Aircraft Act for violating safety directions, and Section 118(e) of the Kerala Police Act for endangering public safety.Airport officials said Batik Air carried out the required inspection and repair procedures, after which the aircraft was cleared for operations and has since departed on its return service.
