Drunk passenger creates a flutter on SpiceJet flight, arrested in Madurai

Police registered a case against a drunk passenger who disturbed his co-passengers and the crew on a Colombo-Madurai SpiceJet flight on Thursday.

The man, identified as Thangaraj (45) of Darasuram near Kumbakonam, roamed around shouting at other passengers. He refused to sit and wear seatbelt while the plane was about to land in Madurai. When the cabin crew forced him to wear seatbelt, he ran into the lavatory and locked himself in it.

Thangaraj came out of the lavatory after long negotiations. But it was not clear whether the plane landed here with the drunk passenger still in the lavatory. Use of lavatory during takeoff and landing is prohibited in accordance with airline safety norms.

When the plane landed at Madurai airport at 3.40pm on Thursday, pilot RPS Barjua approached the Perungudi police and registered a complaint against Thangaraj. He was arrested and released on bail.

Thangaraj is a textile business man and a frequent flier between Madurai and Colombo