Passenger Tries to Open Emergency Exit on Akasa Air Flight

A tense situation unfolded at Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport when a passenger aboard an Akasa Air flight to Mumbai allegedly tried to open the aircraft’s emergency exit while it was taxiing for take-off on Monday evening.

According to reports, the passenger, identified as Sujit Singh from Jaunpur district in Uttar Pradesh, attempted to unlock the exit door moments before the plane was set to depart. The cabin crew immediately intervened, preventing any potential danger and alerting the pilot about the incident.

Following standard safety procedures, the pilot halted taxiing and returned the aircraft to the parking bay. All passengers were safely deboarded while the aircraft underwent a thorough security inspection.

The flight, which was scheduled to take off at 6:45 PM, was delayed for over two hours and finally departed for Mumbai around 9:00 PM after being cleared by the engineering and security teams.

Airport security, assisted by CISF personnel, detained Sujit Singh and handed him over to local police for questioning. During interrogation, the passenger reportedly stated that he acted out of “curiosity” and wanted to see how the emergency exit functioned.

An Akasa Air spokesperson confirmed that all safety protocols were promptly followed and that passenger and crew safety remains the airline’s highest priority. The spokesperson added that the airline enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy for any disruptive or unsafe behaviour on board.

Aviation experts have reiterated that even while an aircraft is on the ground, any attempt to open an emergency exit is a serious violation of flight safety rules. Such actions can trigger emergency alerts, disrupt operations, and lead to severe legal consequences under aviation and criminal laws.

This is not the first time such an incident has been reported from Varanasi airport. Earlier this year, a similar case occurred when another passenger tampered with the emergency exit handle “out of curiosity,” causing flight delays and raising safety concerns.

Authorities have launched a detailed investigation, and officials are examining whether charges under the Aircraft Act or IPC sections related to endangering safety will apply.