'You Puny, Mortal...': Indian-Origin Man 'Attacks' Co-Passenger In-Flight — Video
A Frontier Airlines flight from Philadelphia to Miami descended into chaos on June 30 when an alleged mid-air assault was caught on video, leading to the arrest of 21-year-old Ishaan Sharma, an Indian-origin passenger from Newark, New Jersey.
The now-viral footage shows Sharma and fellow passenger Keanu Evans locked in a tense and violent struggle, grabbing each other by the neck as horrified travelers shout for them to stop. The altercation unfolded in the cramped cabin just moments before the plane touched down in Miami.
Evans, speaking to 7News, claimed the confrontation was completely unprovoked. He alleged that Sharma attacked him while returning to his seat—grabbing him by the throat and uttering bizarre, menacing phrases.
“He was doing this dark laugh—‘Ha ha ha ha ha’—and saying things like, ‘You puny, mortal man, if you challenge me, it will result in your death,’” Evans said.
Initially alarmed by Sharma’s behavior, Evans had alerted flight attendants, who told him to press the assistance button if things escalated. According to Evans, he did just that after repeated threats, but the situation quickly spiraled.
“We locked eyes—forehead to forehead—and then he just grabs me by the throat and starts choking me,” Evans recalled. “In that moment, it was fight or flight. I had no space to move. All I could do was defend myself.”
Sharma was taken into custody upon landing and has been charged with battery. The unsettling video has since sparked widespread debate online about passenger safety and airline response protocols.
During a court appearance on Tuesday, Sharma’s attorney offered a very different account. He claimed the incident began because his client was meditating—part of his religious practice—and another passenger took offense.
“My client is from a religion where he was meditating. Unfortunately, the passenger behind him did not like that,” the lawyer said.
world