SINGAPORE: A 42-year-old man is expected to be charged on April 1 after he allegedly grabbed a passenger and threatened to kill a cabin crew member while drunk on board a plane bound for Changi Airport.
In a statement on Monday (March 31), the police said they were alerted at about 6.55am on Feb 27 to the incident involving the man, an Indian national.
They added that their investigations showed that the man, believed to be intoxicated, grabbed a passenger seated beside him and annoyed other passengers by forcefully pushing the seat in front of him.
When the cabin crew tried to calm him down, the man allegedly grabbed the wrist of a male cabin crew member and verbally threatened to kill him, according to the police.
The man became cooperative only after he was told that the plane would return to its point of departure if he continued his behaviour on board.
The crew then placed him in restraints for the rest of the flight.
Upon arrival at Changi Airport, the man was arrested by officers from the Airport Police Division.
The police did not disclose other details of the flight, such as the airline involved, and the origin of the flight.
The man is to be charged for using criminal force on a person, criminal intimidation with the threat to cause death, and being jeopardising the good order and discipline on board an aircraft while drunk.
If convicted of using criminal force, he may be jailed for up to three months, fined up to $1,500, or both.
For the criminal intimidation charge, he may be jailed for up to 10 years, fined, or both, if convicted.
If found guilty of the third charge, he may be jailed for up to a year, fined $20,000, or both.
The police warned that physical aggression, verbal threats and attempt to interfere with the crew’s duties can compromise flight safety.
Air travellers are reminded to follow air safety regulations and conduct themselves responsibly when onboard an aircraft. - The Straits Times/ANN
