Blitz Bureau
WASHINGTON: A 21-year-old Indian-origin man has been arrested in the US coastal city of Miami in connection with the alleged attack on a fellow passenger midair, reported IANS. The incident occurred on June 30 on board a Frontier Flight from Philadelphia to Miami. Even as the accused, identified as Ishaan Sharma, allegedly attacked a fellow passenger, he suffered injury near the eye area, while the victim, Keanu Evans, suffered minor injuries. As the plane landed in Miami, Sharma was arrested and charged with battery (a harmful or offensive act against another person). He was produced before a court, which set his bond at $500 and barred him from approaching the victim in any way.
During the hearing, Sharma’s lawyer said that his client was meditating and observing silent practice, which the victim, Evans, assumed was a threat.
“My client is from a religion where he was meditating. Unfortunately, the passenger behind him did not like that,” the lawyer stated. A video of the incident, which went viral, showed two men (Sharma and Evans) trying to grab each other’s necks. A fellow passenger can be heard saying, “Let him go. Stop, let him go,” while a crew member said, “Sir, you have to sit down.”
