Passenger arrested for alleged hijacking plan on Vistara flight, causes four-hour delay

A man was arrested in Mumbai after fellow passengers and crew members on a Vistara flight overheard him discussing a "hijacking plan" just before takeoff.

The city's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport was witness to the incident on a flight bound for Delhi.


Passengers, having heard the suspicious conversation, prompted the crew and subsequently security, who took immediate steps to detain the man.

Security personnel conducted a thorough inspection of the entire aircraft prior to its departure for Delhi, resulting in a four-hour delay.

The accused, identified as Ritesh Juneja, was overheard uttering, "Hijack ka sara planning hain. Uska sara access hain, chinta mat karna," which translates to "All planning for hijacking is done. Don't worry as there is an access."

Security personnel told reporters that the incident occurred shortly before the scheduled departure time of 7 pm, after passengers were already in their seats, and cabin crew were attending to their duties.

A member of the cabin crew and other individuals overheard the male passenger's conversation, where he mentioned boarding a flight to Ahmedabad and instructed someone to contact him in case of any difficulties.

The nearby passengers became alarmed upon hearing the conversation, causing some of them to stand up. The cabin crew immediately alerted the flight's security staff, who promptly handed the passenger over to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), ensuring the safety of all onboard.

Authorities have revealed that the accused has been receiving medical treatment for mental instability since 2021. An FIR has been registered against him.

In a statement from Vistara, the airline emphasized its unwavering commitment to maintaining a zero-tolerance policy against unruly conduct that jeopardizes the safety and security of its passengers and staff.

Vistara pledged full cooperation with the security agencies during the investigation into the matter in a strongly worded statement condemning such behaviour