By IANS
Kolkata : A Bangladeshi passenger on a Dubai-Kolkata Emirates flight was detained here and grilled for the entire day after he tried to hit a crew member for allegedly denying him food.
The 50-year-old Dubai-based passenger, who was detained on his arrival here Tuesday morning and released after daylong questioning because the charges against him were not found to be serious, told police that he had boarded the non-stop Emirates flight at 2 a.m. and had not eaten since leaving home at 9 p.m.
Half-an-hour after takeoff, he asked that he be served his meal immediately. The crew refused, saying it was not yet time for food. But the passenger refused to listen, saying he had paid a hefty sum for the ticket and had the right to be served food on demand.
As tempers rose, the man allegedly tried to hit a crew member. Taking no chances, the crew informed the pilot, who relayed the message to the Dubai Airport, which in turn briefed airport authorities in Kolkata.
The hungry passenger was served food after the crew failed to pacify him.
As soon as the plane landed at Kolkata airport, Central Industrial and Security Force (CISF) officials took him in custody.
“No charges had been pressed against him. He had created the problem as he was hungry,” a CISF official said.