Airline Passenger Prays For Plane To Crash, Deplaned After Co-Travelers Panic

An airline passenger was reportedly removed from a Dubai-bound flight after he began praying for the aircraft to crash. The incident took place Thursday at the Islamabad International Airport in Pakistan.

According to reports, the jet was scheduled to depart when the passenger's prayers caused panic among fellow travelers. Local Geo TV reported, citing sources at the airport in the Pakistani capital, that the man began praying as soon as he got into his seat. The man, who was identified only by his first name Khalil, was due to fly to Australia via Dubai and had just boarded the flight at Islamabad.

The man's loud prayers wanting for the plane to crash forced the crew to call airport security.

Local media reported that the rogue passenger was forcibly removed from the flight, which continued as scheduled.

In November last year, an irate passenger began burning clothes he removed from his luggage inside the Islamabad International Airport terminal as his flight was cancelled after being delayed for several hours. The man was scheduled to board a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane but it was grounded due to bad weather. A video showed him igniting his clothes in the middle of the lounge before being confronted by security.

In a statement after the incident, a PIA spokesperson said the airline had decided not to press any charges. “No airline can risk flying a passenger plane in bad weather,” the spokesperson said. “PIA has opted to forgive and forget the incident that happened at Islamabad International Airport on Nov. 15.”