Passenger tries to open emergency exit of Mumbai bound flight at Varanasi airport

Panic spread at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport when a passenger aboard an Akasa Air flight allegedly tried to open the aircraft’s emergency exit before its takeoff. The accused passenger was detained and handed over to the police for interrogation.

The incident occurred as the Mumbai-bound flight was taxing from the apron towards the runway, officials said on Tuesday.

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According to airport officials, the flight was preparing to depart for Mumbai at 6:45 pm on Monday when a passenger was seen attempting to open the emergency door. Alert crew members immediately informed the pilot, who then contacted Air Traffic Control (ATC) and returned the aircraft to the apron area.

Security personnel, including CISF officers, quickly surrounded the aircraft as a precaution. All passengers were deboarded, and the plane was thoroughly inspected. The accused passenger, identified as Sujit Singh, a resident of Mungra Badshahpur in Jaunpur district, was detained and handed over to the police for interrogation.

Officials said intelligence agencies are also questioning him to determine his motive, background, and purpose of travel.

The incident involved Akasa Air flight QP-1498, which had earlier arrived from Mumbai at 6:20 p.m. and was scheduled to return as flight QP-1497 at 6:45 p.m. Following the security checks, the aircraft was cleared for departure at 7:45 pm.

Rajesh Rai, Akasa Air’s local manager, confirmed the incident, stating, “Our crew handled the situation in a highly professional manner, following all safety protocols. After completing all security procedures, the flight departed safely.”

Aviation experts noted that attempting to open an emergency exit during taxi or takeoff poses an extreme safety risk, potentially affecting cabin pressure and aircraft balance.

Akasa Air has apologised to passengers for the inconvenience and delay caused by the security procedure. Authorities are investigating whether the act was intentional or due to confusion. A similar incident occurred previously in Varanasi when a passenger mistakenly tried to open the cockpit door, thinking it was the restroom.

If found guilty, Sujit Singh could face serious charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Aviation Act, both of which classify such action as a grave offense endangering aircraft safety.