Post by : Raina
Al-Fahim
An incident occurred at Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport when a passenger on an Akasa Air flight bound for Mumbai allegedly attempted to open an aircraft emergency exit while the plane was taxiing for take-off on Monday evening.
Local reports identified the individual as Sujit Singh of Jaunpur district in Uttar Pradesh. Sources say he tried to unlock the exit door shortly before departure; cabin crew intervened immediately and informed the flight deck.
In line with safety protocols, the pilot stopped taxiing and returned the aircraft to the parking bay. All travellers were asked to disembark while the aircraft underwent a security check.
The service, originally due to depart at 6:45 PM, was held for more than two hours and left for Mumbai at about 9:00 PM after engineering and security teams gave clearance.
Airport security personnel, supported by CISF staff, detained Sujit Singh and transferred him to the local police for questioning. During initial questioning, he reportedly said he acted out of "curiosity" to see how the emergency exit worked.
An Akasa Air representative said the airline followed established safety procedures and reiterated that the safety of passengers and crew is its top priority. The carrier also noted it maintains a strict zero-tolerance stance on disruptive conduct.
Aviation specialists emphasised that attempting to open an emergency exit, even on the ground, is a serious breach of safety rules. Such actions can trigger alarms, disrupt operations and carry significant legal penalties under aviation and criminal statutes.
Varanasi airport has seen similar incidents before. Earlier this year, another passenger reportedly tampered with an emergency exit handle out of curiosity, causing delays and renewed safety concerns.
Authorities have launched a formal inquiry and are reviewing whether provisions of the Aircraft Act or relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code apply.
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