Varanasi: A passenger on an IndiGo flight was booked for trying to open the plane’s emergency exit door just before landing at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi, prompting the pilot to abort the landing and return the plane back into the air, officials said. The plane landed safely after a few minutes.
Officials said that the passenger was detained and interrogated by several security agencies before being released. The accused initially told police during his interrogation that he was under the “influence of a ghost,” police said. However, he later said he was not aware that pressing the emergency exit button could open the plane door.
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According to officials, IndiGo flight 6E-185 (VT-IRW aircraft) from Bengaluru was approaching Varanasi airport around 10:20 pm on Saturday when the passenger tried to open the emergency exit door moments before landing.
The pilot acted quickly and circled the plane to avoid any potential danger. The plane eventually landed safely at approximately 10:35 p.m. The accident caused panic among more than 100 passengers on board.
Officials said that the passenger, identified as Muhammad Adnan (26 years old), had previously tried to tamper with the emergency exit shortly after the flight departed from Bengaluru, but the plane crew was able to restrain and calm him down.
After the safe landing, the accused was handed over to airline security and the Central Security Force, who then transferred him to the local police, in accordance with security protocols.
He was booked under Section 125 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) on the basis of a complaint filed by IndiGo Assistant Director of Security Devanshu Pratap Singh, Phulpur station house officer Atul Kumar Singh said.
Confirming this, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Gomti District) Akash Patel said: “After the investigation, a report was sent to the accused passenger, and he was later handed over to his parents, and investigations are still ongoing.”
