Air India Express flight IX194 departed Dubai (DXB) a little after 7:30am bound for Lucknow, India (LKO). According to The Quint, a male passenger believed to be in his mid-30s, got up from his seat and proceeded to remove his clothes in front of his fellow passengers. After stripping nude, the man proceeded to pace up and down the aisle of the aircraft. According to an account given to Hindustan Times, a passenger onboard the flight stated that, "As soon as the aircraft crew saw him walking nude, they pounced on him and wrapped him in a blanket. Initially, the man resisted but the staff managed to overpower him." The man was restrained for the remainder of the flight.
Upon landing in Lucknow, the flight crew handed off the nude passenger to security officials, as per official protocol. An Air India spokesperson told ANI that, "per the direction of the captain of the flight, the passenger was handed over to airlines security at Lucknow airport where [an] investigation is underway."
Numerous Indian sources allude to the incident being stress-induced. Multiple sources claim that the passenger reported to authorities that he had become upset and stressed while in Dubai for work as he was the only non-Pakistani in his office. However, the claim could not be verified.
After authorities were able to identify and question the nude passenger, he was released to members of his family. The passenger apologized to authorities for his actions. Nonetheless, Air India has stated that the man has been placed on the airline's official watch list.
H/T: The Quint
