Software Engineer Arrested for Sexual Harassment of Flight Attendant on Air India Dubai-Hyderabad Flight

The incident took place on an Air India flight (File).

A 34-year-old software engineer was taken into custody at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport for allegedly sexually harassing a female flight attendant on an Air India flight from Dubai to Hyderabad. The suspect, Benyam Nazar, a Kerala native, was apprehended on November 29.

Nazar, employed in Saudi Arabia, has been placed in judicial custody after being charged under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for assault and sexual harassment offenses.

The alleged harassment occurred on November 28 during the Dubai to Hyderabad flight. According to the flight attendant's complaint, Nazar, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, behaved inappropriately throughout the journey, including making unwanted physical contact. Initially, the cabin crew member dismissed these contacts as unintentional.

However, the situation escalated after landing in Hyderabad. Investigating Officer Harika informed NDTV that following disembarkation, Nazar approached the crew claiming to have forgotten his passport on board.

When the flight attendant returned to search for the passport, she discovered obscene writings on a tissue paper left at the passenger's seat, but no passport was found. This discovery prompted her to file a formal complaint with authorities.

Airport police immediately arrested the accused after receiving the complaint and have subsequently placed him on judicial remand.