Paola Perruccio, who had an economy class ticket, insisted on sitting in business class.
On Monday, a 45-year-old Italian woman was arrested for assaulting crew members on a Vistara Abu Dhabi-Mumbai flight. According to the airlines, Paola Perruccio, who had purchased an economy class ticket, insisted on sitting in business class and assaulted a crew member when she was stopped. She allegedly punched one cabin crew member, spat on another, and walked around the plane partially naked. She was arrested by Mumbai police after a cabin crew complaint, but she was later granted bail by a Mumbai court.
For “unruly and violent behaviour,” Ms Perruccio had to be restrained in the plane’s cockpit in mid-flight.
“In view of the continued unruly conduct and violent behaviour, the captain issued a warning card and made a decision to restrain the customer. The pilot made frequent announcements to reassure the other passengers onboard about their safety and security. The security agencies on the ground were informed to take immediate action upon arrival in accordance with the guidelines and our stringent standard operating procedures (SOPs),” Vistara said in a statement.
She also removed some of her clothes and walked down the aisle partially naked, hurling insults and assaulting crew members.
The Mumbai Police filed a charge sheet against the passenger within a day of filing a case against him.
“Mumbai Police has filed a charge sheet in a case of misbehavior by an airline passenger mid-flight in record time,” police said.
The woman was also subjected to a medical examination before being charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. According to the police, all formalities for recording statements from co-passengers, crew, and others have been completed.
