THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 30-year-old man from Kollam was arrested by the Valiyathura police on Monday for smoking inside the washroom of an Air India Express flight en route from Sharjah to Thiruvananthapuram.

The accused, Hamlet Jose of Velipurayidam in Sakthikulangara, triggered alarm onboard when smoke began to fill the rear section of the aircraft mid-flight. Alerted cabin crew launched an immediate inspection and found Jose emerging from the lavatory. Though he initially denied the act, a lighter found in his possession exposed the truth, prompting him to confess.

Jose claimed ignorance about the flight’s no-smoking policy. However, police say the claim doesn’t hold water. “The accused has flown before and was well aware of airline rules. This was a conscious and reckless act,” said a senior officer.

Upon arrival at the Thiruvananthapuram airport, the flight crew handed him over to the authorities. A case was registered under Section 118(e) of the Kerala Police Act for endangering public safety, and under Section 4 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003.

Jose was arrested and later released on station bail.