Mumbai — A routine evening flight from Varanasi to Mumbai turned into a tense security episode when a passenger attempted to tamper with the aircraft’s emergency exit doors, leading to his immediate arrest and a one-hour delay.
The disruption unfolded aboard Akasa Air flight QP 1497, scheduled to depart Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi at 6:45 p.m. on Monday. As the plane began taxiing toward the runway, Sujit Singh, a resident of Jaunpur district in Uttar Pradesh, reportedly reached for the emergency exit handles in what authorities later described as an act driven by mere curiosity.
Alert cabin crew members spotted the unauthorized action and swiftly notified the cockpit. The pilot, acting on instructions from Air Traffic Control (ATC), halted the taxiing process and guided the aircraft back to the apron area for safety.
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Security teams responded without delay, ensuring the safe deboarding of all passengers. Singh was taken into custody on the spot, while the rest of the travelers were evacuated under controlled conditions. Phoolpur Station House Officer Praveen Kumar Singh, speaking to news agency PTI, revealed that the suspect confessed during initial questioning that his intentions were not malicious but stemmed from an impulsive urge to explore the door mechanism.
A formal case has been registered against Singh, who remains in police custody pending further interrogation. No injuries were reported, and the incident underscored the vigilance of airline staff in preventing potential hazards.
With security protocols cleared, the flight resumed operations and lifted off for Mumbai at approximately 7:45 p.m., restoring normalcy for the affected passengers.
This event highlights the stringent safety measures in place at Indian airports, where even seemingly innocuous behaviors can trigger immediate intervention to protect lives.
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