Passenger allegedly struck flight attendant on Turkish Airlines flight after dispute over Sharia

A police spokesperson explained the background to Bild: "Laut ersten Zeugenaussagen habe der Mann sich auf die Scharia berufen und lehnte es ab, neben einer Frau zu sitzen." In the ensuing confrontation, the passenger is said to have slapped the flight attendant. The aircraft was in cruise flight at the time; investigators initially provided no further details on the route or destination.

Sequence of events on board

According to police information, the accused man is said to have confessed to the act in the interrogations conducted so far. After landing at Düsseldorf Airport, he was received by officers of the Federal Police and subsequently questioned. The public prosecutor's office is, according to investigators, considering issuing an arrest warrant.

The flight attendant was injured in the attack according to current findings. Police and the public prosecutor's office initially provided no further information on the severity of the injuries. She received medical treatment; whether she was able to continue her duties remained unclear the day after the case became known.

The case is attracting attention beyond Düsseldorf because police have cited a religiously motivated background. The authority also stresses that this is a criminal offence against an aviation employee and will be prosecuted accordingly under German law. There are so far no indications of accomplices or an organised approach.

Investigations and jurisdictions

The Federal Police, whose remit includes aviation, is involved in the proceedings according to information from investigative circles. The questioning of witnesses on board and the evaluation of video recordings from the cabin are underway. Turkish Airlines was also informed, according to police.

Legal consequences threaten the accused under the Criminal Code regardless of any possible religious motivation. In addition to bodily harm, criminal lawyers say an offence of insult or resistance to law enforcement officers could also be considered in such constellations, provided crew members are acting in that capacity.

The investigations are ongoing. Further witnesses and the exact circumstances of the confrontation are to be reconstructed in the coming days. Düsseldorf police also appealed for possible information from fellow passengers who have not yet come forward.

Possible legal consequences

Turkish Airlines declined to comment on the incident when asked. In the industry, assaults on cabin crew are considered crimes that are consistently reported. Airlines can also issue bans and file criminal complaints.

The case is part of a series of incidents in which passengers are said to have resisted cabin crew instructions. Police point out that the crew on board has the authority to give instructions and that assaults will be prosecuted under criminal law.

Nothing is yet known, according to police, about the accused's professional background, possible prior convictions or his current residency status. For reasons of personal privacy, no information is being released about the identity of the flight attendant or her treatment after the incident.