A mid-air scare on an IndiGo flight from Bengaluru to Varanasi left passengers shaken when a man allegedly attempted to open the aircraft’s emergency exit door moments before landing, forcing the pilot to abort the descent and circle back for a safe touchdown.
The incident unfolded on Saturday night aboard IndiGo flight 6E-185 (aircraft VT-IRW), which was approaching Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi around 10:20 pm. According to officials, the 26-year-old passenger, identified as Mohammad Adnan, tried to tamper with the emergency exit just prior to touchdown. The pilot responded immediately by executing a go-around procedure, taking the plane back into the air to avert any risk. The aircraft landed safely approximately 15 minutes later at 10:35 pm, with over 100 passengers on board experiencing moments of panic.
This was not the first such attempt during the flight. Officials noted that Adnan had earlier tried to interfere with the emergency exit shortly after departure from Bengaluru. Cabin crew intervened at that time, restraining and calming him down.
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Following the safe landing, Adnan was handed over to the airline’s security team and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), who then transferred him to local police as per standard protocols. He was booked under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for an act endangering the life or personal safety of others, based on a complaint lodged by IndiGo assistant security manager Devanshu Pratap Singh, said Phulpur station house officer Atul Kumar Singh.
During initial questioning, Adnan reportedly told police he was under the “influence of a ghost.” He later claimed he was unaware that pressing the emergency exit button or handle could open the aircraft door. After interrogation by multiple security agencies, authorities served him a notice and released him to his parents. Deputy commissioner of police (Gomti Zone) Akash Patel confirmed that investigations are ongoing.
The swift actions by the flight crew and pilot prevented what could have been a far more serious situation, underscoring the critical importance of in-flight security measures.
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