Man flies by Air India plane without ticket; found hiding in toilet

In a major security breach, an Indian national working in Medina airport in Saudi Arabia, managed to board an Air India flight carrying 273 Haj piligrims back home, without a ticket and passport, and travelled here after hiding in the plane's toilet for half an hour.

Habib (25) from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh, who was working at Medina airport with a Saudi ground handling company, got into the plane which returned to Jaipur on Friday night, and hid in the toilet, superintendent of police, Jaipur East, BG Joseph said.

Habib's presence came to light about half an hour after the flight took off from Medina, when a passenger went to the toilet.

Air India sources said he got into the aircraft on the plea of cleaning it.

During questioning by the cabin crew, it was ascertained that it was a case of stowaway, and Habib did not intend to harm anybody. However, the captain of the flight had alerted the Air Traffic Control in Jaipur where police arrested him.

Habib told the police that he was working as a cleaner at Medina airport, and the contractor, who employed him there, had taken away his passport. He somehow wanted to come back home.

The man is being questioned by the Intelligence Bureau and the Special Operation Group of Rajasthan police, officials here said.