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Elderly Passenger's Aggressive Behaviour Causes Chaos on Newark-Mumbai Flight

In a terrifying incident on an Air India flight from Newark in New Jersey to Mumbai, a senior citizen suffered from an anxiety attack that lasted for seven hours.

Elderly Passenger's Aggressive Behaviour Causes Chaos on Newark-Mumbai Flight
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In a terrifying incident on an Air India flight from Newark in New Jersey to Mumbai, a senior citizen suffered from an anxiety attack that lasted for seven hours. The passenger was described as being in his 70s and in good physical shape. He displayed extreme emotional fluctuations ranging from moments of serenity to bouts of anger. The situation escalated rapidly when he became verbally aggressive.

The elderly passenger directed most of his anger towards his own wife, attempting to choke her on multiple occasions, said an onlooker of the business class. This prompted immediate intervention from fellow passengers and crew members. They tried to protect her and diffuse the increasingly dangerous situation. In fear for her safety, the wife sought refuge in the economy section of the aircraft.

The verbal outbursts, panic, and physical threats continued for seven hours. However, it was the timely assistance of the two doctors on board, Dr. Patel and Dr. Venugopal, that helped in restraining the disruptive passenger and administering the necessary sedatives. Sedatives helped alleviate his anxiety and gradually calm him down.

The disruptive episode unfolded on Air India flight AI-144, which departed from Newark for Mumbai at around 12.20 pm local time (IST). The initial three hours of the flight seemed uneventful until the elderly passenger, occupying seat 14K, engaged in a heated argument with a flight attendant. His agitation escalated rapidly, as he began screaming and demanding to be let off the plane. He repeatedly insisted that the door be opened.

Further enquiry into the incident revealed that the passenger had forgotten to take his anxiety medication after the flight took off. Finally, the Air India flight landed safely in Mumbai at approximately noon the following day. The captain expressed gratitude towards the doctors for their valuable assistance.

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