Man arrested onboard Vistara flight for ‘talking about hijacking’

According to police, the passenger has been identified as Ritesh Sanjaykukar Juneja, 23, a resident of Sirsa in Haryana.
Juneja was onboard a Vistara flight UK-996 from Mumbai to Delhi on Thursday.

As per the police complaint, when Neha Rajesh Kumar Soni, 27, the cabin crew of the Vistara flight was helping passengers take seat, she heard Ritesh Sanjaykukar Juneja talking something objectionable with someone over phone.

As per Soni’s statement to the police she heard Juneja saying, “Ahmedabad ka flight board karnewala hai, koi bhi dikkat ho toh mujhe call karna, hijack ka sara planning hai, uska sara access hai, chinta mat karna (Scheduled to board Ahmedabad fight, if you have any issue call me, all planning is for hijack, has its all access, don’t worry).”

Soni immediately informed the captain and other concerned officials.

Security and police were then informed and Juneja was handed over to the police for further investigation.

“Juneja’s act terrorized crew and passengers in the flight hence on airline’s complaint a case was registered against him under sections 336 (Act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 505-2 (public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code,” said a police officer from the Sahar police station. Juneja was subsequently arrested in the case.

Inquiry has revealed that Juneja made such statements because he is mentally ill.

Police are further investigating the matter.