7 hours ago
Last Updated:July 03, 2025, 17:48 IST
Sharma allegedly issued bizarre threats mid-air before attacking Keanu Evans, who fought back and restrained him until landing.
A witness filmed the moment Sharma lunged at a passenger mid-flight but the assault quickly turned on him. (IMAGE: X)
New Jersey resident Ishaan Sharma received a black eye and court date after he got involved in an unprovoked, mid-flight attack on a fellow passenger but it ended up backfiring.
The 21-year-old who hails from allegedly assaulted Keanu Evans for no apparent reason as their Frontier Airlines flight from Philadelphia approached Miami-Dade Airport, US-based news outlet WSVN reported.
Evans told the news outlet that moments before he was attacked, Sharma, who sat one seat ahead, was muttering strange things and issuing death threats.
“He was doing some, like, dark laugh like, ‘ha ha ha ha ha.’ And he was saying things like, ‘you punt, mortal man, if you challenge me, it will result in your death," Evans was quoted as saying by WSVN.
But Sharma completely lost his cool when Evans pressed the assistance button and called for help from airlines staff.
A video has gone viral showing Sharma standing over Evans and grabbing him by the throat but he was quickly outdone by his fellow passenger.
Video footage from the incident shows Evans restraining Sharma while other passengers asked him to stop. Evans later told local media that he regretted how the situation unfolded but said he felt compelled to protect himself.
Images shared by law enforcement show Sharma with visible injuries to his face, including a black eye and a cut above his eyebrow. Evans sustained minor scratches.
Sharma has been charged with battery by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Attorneys representing Sharma argued that their client was meditating at the time of the incident and claimed the confrontation may have been sparked by discomfort from the passenger seated behind him.
“My client is from a religion where he was meditating," defense attorney Renee Gordon told the Daily Mail. “Unfortunately, the passenger behind him did not like that."
The incident remains under investigation.
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...Read More
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...
Read More
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:News world Mid-Air Brawl: Indian-Origin Man Tries To Assault Flyer, Gets Beaten Up Himself
