A man allegedly attempted to open a plane's emergency exit mid-flight on Aug. 7
Jamsheer Athanikkal was traveling from Malaysia to India on a Batik Air flight when the incident occurred
"He said he felt like doing so at that moment," a police officer claimed of the man's reasoning for the alleged incident
A man was arrested after he allegedly attempted to open a plane's emergency exit door while 30,000 feet in the air.
Jamsheer Athanikkal was traveling from Malaysia to India on a Batik Air flight on Wednesday, Aug. 7, when he tried to open the emergency exit, the Press Trust of India, the Indian Express and the Deccan Chronicle reported.
"The incident took place mid-air between 9:30 p.m. and 11 p.m.," a police officer explained to the Indian Express. "Jamsheer was a traveller in seat number 12A, [and] without any provocation, he tried to open the emergency exit and destroyed the exit window panel."
"He threatened the co-passengers and the crew, who tried to prevent him," the officer continued. "Later, he was overpowered by the co-passengers and the crew."
In videos shared on social media, the 36-year-old man can be seen restrained by the flight crew members, who used zip ties.
In addition to visible scratches on the window, pieces of the plane's plastic interior appeared significantly damaged.
GB News reported that the plane was around 30,000 feet up in the air at the time of the incident.
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Upon arrival at Kochi Airport, Athanikkal was arrested on charges of criminal intimidation, failure to follow official safety directions and risking public safety, per the Deccan Chronicle.
Police have since added an attempted murder charge, the outlet reported.
"As the act of the accused could have endangered the lives of the co-passengers, we have evoked an attempt to murder charge against him," a police officer told the Deccan Chronicle. "He has to be questioned in detail as part of the probe."
"We will also file a petition to conduct a test to ascertain his mental condition," they added.
Speaking about why Athanikkal allegedly committed the mid-flight act, a police officer told the Indian Express, "He said he felt like doing so at that moment."
"He said he was coming home to see his newborn," added the officer.
Batik Air and the Nedumbassery Police Station did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Sunday, Aug. 9.
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