Passenger beats up crew to get off plane before Dubai take-off

A passenger allegedly assaulted cabin crew in a frantic attempt to get out as the plane was just about to take-off, the court heard on Tuesday, according to a report in the Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm.

On June 12, minutes before the plane could reach the runway, the 27-year-old Pakistani farmer reportedly attempted opening the emergency door.

One of the cabin crew members tried stopping him and asked him the reason he wanted to get out. He allegedly pushed the Portuguese stewardess aside.

Following which, two others  – a German and a Sri Lankan stewardess – joined the struggle but failed to convince him. He allegedly pushed one of the crew member in the chest and pulled another by his necktie.

So, they informed the pilot and the plane returned to the parking bay to let him off, as the crew stood guard at the door. Meanwhile, he reportedly again kicked at the shoulders of one of the crew members as she was helping her colleagues pin him down.

Once the plane reached the parking lot, security officials took him away.

The flight was delayed by about two hours. The airline management replaced the staff before the flight took off again.

While prosecutors have requested the court to grant him the toughest punishment, his lawyer has requested for time in order to refer him to a psychiatrist. “He has a mental illness,” the lawyer argued.

The judge has adjourned the hearing until November 9.