Passenger Jumps From Air Arabia Flight At Chennai Airport Amid Taxing, Triggers Chaos

A shocking incident took place at Chennai International Airport early Sunday morning when a passenger opened an emergency exit and jumped off an aircraft shortly after landing.

The incident led to the temporary closure of the airport's main runway, causing flight delays and even a diversion.

What Happened After Landing?

The incident involved an Airbus A320 operated by Air Arabia. The flight, G9-471, had arrived from Sharjah and landed safely around 3:23 am.

However, just a minute after landing, while the aircraft was moving on a taxiway, a passenger suddenly opened an emergency exit and jumped out. This forced the aircraft to stop immediately.

Runway Closed as Safety Measure

Following the incident, airport authorities quickly closed the main runway (07/25) at around 3:25 am as a precaution.

Chennai airport operates with two intersecting runways, and during the closure, operations were shifted to the secondary runway (12/30). Normal operations resumed after about an hour, once the situation was brought under control.

Passenger Taken Into Custody

The passenger was identified as 29-year-old Mohamed Sherif Mohamed Najmudeen. Airline staff alerted security officials, who took him into custody and handed him over to the police.

Officials said the passenger claimed he was not in a stable condition at the time of the incident. Authorities are now investigating the exact reason behind his actions.

Flights Delayed, One Diverted

The runway closure affected several flights at the busy airport. At least five flights were delayed by up to 40 minutes.

An incoming flight from London operated by British Airways was diverted to Bengaluru due to the disruption.

Some flights were managed using the secondary runway to minimise the impact, but operations were still affected for a short period.

Aircraft Cleared, Operations Resume

The aircraft involved in the incident was moved from the taxiway around 4:25 am, allowing runway operations to resume by 4:35 am.

The return flight to Sharjah was also delayed by over three hours due to the incident.

Investigation Underway

Authorities are currently investigating the matter to understand how the passenger managed to open the emergency exit and whether any safety rules were violated.

While officials say the disruption was temporary, the incident has raised concerns about passenger behaviour and airport safety protocols.

Chennai airport is one of the busiest aviation hubs in southern India, handling millions of passengers every year. Incidents like this highlight the importance of strict safety measures and passenger awareness.