Saturday, December 20, 2025
ADVT 
International

Aussie-Indian man pleads guilty to unruly behaviour on Air Canada flight

Darpan News Desk IANS, 01 Mar, 2023 01:03 PM
  • Aussie-Indian man pleads guilty to unruly behaviour on Air Canada flight

Melbourne, March 1 (IANS) An Australian-Indian man pleaded guilty to one count of behaving in an offensive and disorderly manner in an aircraft, and was fined AUS$750 by a local court this week.

Hardik Patel, 46, from Rooty Hill in western Sydney, became aggressive and abusive onboard a 15-hour Air Canada flight from Vancouver due to heavy drinking, and was arrested upon his arrival at Sydney Airport earlier this month, the Daily Mail reported.

The Air Canada crew found one litre bottle of Bacardi and a water bottle containing a liquid smelling strongly of alcohol with Patel. The crew confiscated the bottles as according to the Civil Aviation and Safety Authority, airline passengers can only consume alcohol provided by cabin crew during a flight.

The crew reported that Patel had then become aggressive shortly before AC33 from Vancouver touched down.

The Australian Federal Police officers, who arrested Patel, observed he had a "flushed face and a strong alcohol odour".

According to a statement of facts submitted in the court, Patel "had poor ability to understand instructions and indifferent demeanour, which escalated to being abusive towards police".

When the police told him that it is an offence to consume one's own alcohol in an aircraft, Patel's responses were "largely aggressive and incoherent", the Daily Mail reported.

He continued to ask police why he was arrested and "became more verbally aggressive and argumentative towards police officers, yelling and screaming and trying to engage with members of the public," the report said.

The police then decided to take Patel into custody "for his own safety and welfare and the welfare and safety of those around him", the statement submitted to the court said.

The Downing Centre Local Court on Monday convicted Patel and fined him AUS$750.

MORE International ARTICLES

EXPLAINER: Will you need a 'vaccine passport' to travel?

EXPLAINER: Will you need a 'vaccine passport' to travel?
It is not clear, however, whether any of the passports under development will be accepted broadly around the world, and the result could be confusion among travellers and disappointment for the travel industry.

EXPLAINER: Will you need a 'vaccine passport' to travel?

EXPLAINER: Why Georgia attack spurs fears in Asian Americans

EXPLAINER: Why Georgia attack spurs fears in Asian Americans
As details emerge, many members of the Asian American community see the Georgia killings as a haunting reminder of harassment and assaults that have been occurring from coast to coast.

EXPLAINER: Why Georgia attack spurs fears in Asian Americans

EXPLAINER: Why countries are halting the AstraZeneca shot

EXPLAINER: Why countries are halting the AstraZeneca shot
Norway, Iceland, Bulgaria, Thailand, and Congo soon followed suit. On Saturday, Norwegian authorities reported that four people under age 50 who had gotten the AstraZeneca vaccine had an unusually low number of blood platelets.

EXPLAINER: Why countries are halting the AstraZeneca shot

WHO grants emergency authorization for J&J COVID vaccine

WHO grants emergency authorization for J&J COVID vaccine
In a statement, the U.N. health agency said “the ample data from large clinical trials” shows the J&J vaccine is effective in adult populations. The emergency use listing comes a day after the European Medicines Agency recommended the shot be given the green light across the 27-country European Union.

WHO grants emergency authorization for J&J COVID vaccine

Denmark pauses AstraZeneca vaccine jabs to probe blood clots

Denmark pauses AstraZeneca vaccine jabs to probe blood clots
Denmark's Health Authority said its decision was “based on a precautionary principle” and that one person who developed a blood clot after vaccination had died.

Denmark pauses AstraZeneca vaccine jabs to probe blood clots

Invalidations of Meghan's claims of racism hurt Black women

Invalidations of Meghan's claims of racism hurt Black women
Dr. Anita Thomas, executive vice-president and provost at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota, said watching Meghan’s interview with Winfrey was emotional.

Invalidations of Meghan's claims of racism hurt Black women