“So, the foolproof method to avoid any threat of violence is to abstain from the passenger in the controlled area itself,” said Anuradha. According to the expert, aviation security protocols are designed to “eliminate even low-probability risks”. “It is not about suspicion of intent, but about maintaining the integrity of a controlled zone. But in practical terms:Story continues below this adIf the issue is sterile zone integrity…CISF leads. For domestic flights, the maximum time one can be held in the controlled area is 3 hours, which may be justified.

Source: Indian Express March 05, 2026 09:31 UTC