Emirates passenger attacked flight attendants during panic attack, Dubai court hears

The Pakistani man panicked as the aircraft was taxiing towards the runway, demanded to be let off the plane before assaulting three cabin crew members who tried to stop him opening the cabin door.

DUBAI // An Emirates airline passenger who panicked as the plane was taking off attacked several flight attendants in his attempt to open the cabin door, the Criminal Court has heard.

Q A, 29, a Pakistani farmer who works in Al Ain, was charged with assaulting three staff members who tried to restrain him – endangering the lives of the other passengers with his actions – and use of violence to get off the aircraft.

Flight attendant C C, 25, from Portugal, said that on June 12 this year the plane was taxiing at Dubai International Airport when the defendant got out of his seat and walked towards her.

“He wanted to get out of the plane, so I told him to be seated as the plane is moving and will take off, but he refused and pushed me to try to open the door,” she said.

The defendant then punched a male attendant in the chest and pushed another to the floor after both men tried to assist C C.

“He didn’t say why he wanted to get off the plane, he just insisted to get off,” said C C, who was also kicked in the legs by the defendant during her attempts to control him.

S S, 30, from Germany, one of the other attendants attacked by the farmer, said: “I asked him why he wanted to get off the plane but he didn’t answer me.

“He was moving a lot and pointing at the door so we asked him to sit, but he didn’t.

“We informed the captain who reported the matter and the plane was brought to a stop, then policemen came and arrested him.”

M K, 36, a Sri Lankan attendant, said: “He grabbed me by my tie and pushed S S and kicked C C, so we had to restrain him until police arrived.

“If he had opened the door, he would have most probably caused a fire in the plane.”

C C, S S and M K had to be replaced by three other cabin crew, which contributed to the flight being delayed by more than two hours.

Court records did not reveal the destination of the flight.

At the hearing on Tuesday, the defendant denied the charges.

The judge ordered that Q A be sent to a mental health institution for evaluation. The next hearing was scheduled for November 9.