LAHORE: An Ethiopian Airlines plane en route from Addis Ababa to Beijing made an emergency landing at Allama Iqbal International Airport on Saturday after a brawl broke out between a Chinese passenger and several others on board.

According to a source at the airport, the plane’s pilot contacted the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Saturday morning requesting an emergency landing because of a scuffle between a “psychiatric patient” and some other passengers and crew members, a few of whom had suffered minor injuries.

After the plane landed, the CAA provided medical aid to at least four passengers, including Mr Diajni (the patient) for minor injuries. “On a request of the pilot, the Airport Security Force took Mr Diajni, 40, and his medical attendant into custody. The CAA also called in Chinese consulate officials and handed over the Chinese nationals to them,” he said.

The pilot told representatives of the Chinese consulate that Mr Diajni, an electrical engineer by profession, was accompanied by a medical attendant. “Mr Diajni [lost his temper] over some issue and became engaged in a brawl with fellow passengers and the crew. The crew members, with the help of passengers, overpowered him,” the pilot was quoted as having said.

The Chinese consulate took the two Chinese nationals after meeting their Pakistani visa requirements, the source said. The plane left for Beijing after more than three hours stay at Lahore airport.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2017