NRI passenger tests positive for drugs

Mumbai: The NRI passenger who delayed Air India (AI)'s Mumbai-Paris-Newark flight on Thursday with his erratic behaviour has tested positive for cannabis, but his relatives say he suffers from claustrophobia.
On Friday, Mark Mahendra Sharma's aunt Nirmala Tara had come to meet him at the Sahar police station. She says he needs medical attention.
The police, however, differ. “Sharma's medical reports have come in. He had consumed cannabis and we are going to lodge a case against him under the NDPS Act,” says senior police inspector of Sahar police station Dilip Patil.
Air India's flight was delayed for three hours after Sharma sparked a scare on board. He made several trips to the toilet while the aircraft was taxiing for take-off; then, he stuffed his underwear in the commode. While doing so, his cellphone also fell into the toilet. An airhostess, who had been observing his behaviour, saw the cellphone and thought it was a bomb. The captain was alerted and he decided to abort takeoff.
Sharma had come to Mumbai 10 days back to celebrate Diwali and was staying with Tara at her Colaba residence. According to Tara, Sharma is a businessman in the US and stays with his parents. She says he suffers from hypertension and claustrophobia.
01/11/08 Navita Singh/Daily News & Analysis

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Categories: Air India - International Nov 2008, Foreign Nov 2008, NACIL Nov 2008, Safety Nov 2008