A Delhi–Lucknow Air India flight turned turbulent on Tuesday — but not because of bad weather.

The drama unfolded aboard flight AI-837 when Rakesh Pratap Singh, a former Samajwadi Party MLA from Gauriganj (expelled in June for anti-party activities), clashed with co-passenger Samad Ali over the latter’s alleged foul-mouthed phone conversation.

According to eyewitnesses, Singh objected to Ali’s choice of words, but instead of cooling tempers, the exchange only escalated.

The two men soon got into a heated argument, ignoring repeated objections from fellow travellers. Eventually, the cabin crew had to step in to separate them.

“The man continued with derogatory words which are unacceptable in any civil society. When I tried to stop him firmly, he misbehaved with me as well,” Singh told reporters in Lucknow, as quoted by PTI.

He added, “The Constitution gives us freedom, but that does not mean one can misuse it to infringe on others’ dignity.” Following the incident, Singh filed a complaint, and an FIR was registered against Ali, who was later detained.