Attempt to murder charge against passenger who tried to open flight exit midair
Police have added an attempt to murder charge against a passenger accused of trying to open the emergency exit of a Kuala Lumpur-Kochi flight, damaging
Police have added an attempt to murder charge against a passenger accused of trying to open the emergency exit of a Kuala Lumpur-Kochi flight, damaging its window panel and threatening fellow passengers and cabin crew, officials said on Saturday. Investigators are also carrying out a detailed probe into what led to the incident. The passenger, identified as Jamsheer Athanikkal of Koottanad in Palakkad, was travelling on Batik Air flight OD231 from Kuala Lumpur to Kochi on Wednesday. Police said his actions on board endangered the safety of those on the flight before the cabin crew intervened and restrained him. He was arrested after the flight landed at the airport on Thursday.
Read Full Story Officials at the Nedumbassery police station said the case was first registered under Section 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for criminal intimidation, Section 11A of the Aircraft Act for violating safety or security directions, and Section 118(e) of the Kerala Police Act for acts endangering public safety. "However, as the act of the accused could have endangered the lives of the co-passengers, we have evoked an attempt to murder charge against him. He has to be questioned in detail as part of the probe," an officer said. Police said they would move the Angamaly Judicial First Class Magistrate on Monday, seeking Athanikkal's custody for further questioning.
"We will also file a petition to conduct a test to ascertain his mental condition," an officer said. During the initial interrogation after his arrest, Athanikkal allegedly told police that he had felt like dying while travelling on the flight. According to the police, there was no apparent provocation during the flight that could have triggered his behaviour. Officials said his health history and that of his relatives were also being examined as part of the probe. "The statements of other passengers on the flight will be recorded. We are also trying to obtain the statement of the cabin crew members, who are currently abroad," the officer said. Police also said Athanikkal had turned violent when he was produced before the magistrate.
Police said Athanikkal had been working in Malaysia at a company owned by his friend for the past 10 years and was travelling to Kerala to see his newborn child. Officials said other state and central agencies were also collecting information about him. "If any evidence emerges during the investigation, we will invoke fresh charges and refer the matter to other agencies for a detailed investigation," the officer said. The case now centres on the added attempt to murder charge as police continue to examine the motive, his condition and the events on board the flight. Ends
The BriefWire