An airhostess has pressed charges of assault and sexual harassment against the commander and co-pilot of an Air India flight following a mid-air scuffle on board the Sharjah-Lucknow-Delhi flight.

The airhostess (name withheld on request) lodged an FIR at IGI Airport police station on Saturday. Pending inquiry, Air India has de-rostered both pilots and the two cabin crew members involved in the incident.

Sources said a scuffle broke out between Commander Ranbeer Arora and a flight person (or male crew member), identified as Amit, about 20 minutes after flight IC-884 took off at 12.35 am Sharjah time. Another source onboard said the co-pilot had invited the flight person to the cockpit to resolve the issue, and the airhostess, about 25 years, was acting as a mediator.

According to the source, pilot Ranbeer Arora allegedly passed intimidating comments when the two crew members were in the cockpit. “The commander tried to physically abuse me. When I resisted, he pushed me outside the cockpit,” the airhostess told Newsline.

She claimed she was touched at inappropriate places.

Sources said Arora has been involved in such fights earlier, too. Arora could not be reached for comments.

An airline spokesperson said the incident took place around 0430 hours when the flight was over Pakistan; the flight had 106 passengers and seven crew members.

Joint Commissioner (Operations) Satendra Garg said, “A case has been registered under Sections 354, 323 and 34 of IPC accusing the co-pilot and commander of molestation, passing derogatory remarks outraging modesty, and simple hurt. We have got the medical examination done and will take the version of the accused.”

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