CJP leaders' detention: Here’s all that happened on board AI 2428

Soon after landing at Delhi Airport on Saturday morning, the pilots of AI 2428 were directed to a remote bay instead of a standby spot linked to an aerobridge. The Airbus A320, previously operated by Vistara, was guided to the bay near the international terminal T3. Security personnel arrived and boarded the aircraft, setting up a passenger stair car and escorting CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to be detained.

Dipke said "I have come here to be arrested; arrest me" during the encounter. After the police team and the three activists exited the plane, the rest of the passengers were required to remain seated for 10-15 minutes. The long taxi required for landing from the Dwarka side led to a longer journey to T3. Air India declined to comment on the incident, noting that such actions are not unusual when dealing with unruly passengers or criminals.

The incident occurs infrequently when political or social activists face this treatment. The airport operator, Delhi International Airport Ltd, allocates bays under special circumstances like a bomb threat. Pilots followed instructions from air traffic control for the remote bay allocation, as they are operating within a highly regulated environment.