DNA
Mumbai, Oct 6: Langins Liga, a 50-year-old Canadian national, caused Friday’s October 5, Jet Airways Mumbai-Kolkatta flight number 9W0201 to abandon take off. The aircraft, which had at least 200 passengers on board and scheduled to take off at 6.50am, was delayed by an hour due to the incident. Liga, reported to be mentally unstable, panicked as the aircraft was about to take off and began shouting.
“The flight was on time. After boarding the passengers, we were ready for take off. All of a sudden the passenger started screaming that she wanted to get off the plane. She gave us no reason for her behaviour and why she wanted to deplane.
“The aircraft had to abandon take off and return to the parking bay. After the aircraft came to a halt, the airline security took her away,” said one of the passengers on the flight.
The aircraft was checked thoroughly by the security agency of the airline in case the woman had planted something on the plane. Passengers were also asked to go through a security check once more. The woman was reportedly not carrying much luggage apart from cabin baggage.
Jet Airways confirmed the incident to DNA. An airline official said Liga seemed to be mentally unstable and was fighting with the crew. She reportedly said ‘she did not want to fly the airline’.
“She was inconveniencing the other passengers and we thought it was prudent to deplane her,” said the official.
After the incident, Liga got lost in the airport crowd. According to the airline, they did not think that her behaviour was one to arouse suspicion which is why no action was taken against her.
This is the second incident at Mumbai’s airport in the recent past where a mentally unstable passenger has been allowed to board the flight without an attendant and cause the aircraft to abandon take off.
In July, a Virgin Atlantic passenger, also mentally unstable, was allowed to board the flight. The aircraft was called back when the passenger’s wife called the airport security reporting his condition.
However, it is apparent that airline officials have not been able to do so.