Passenger Tries to Open Emergency Exit on Akasa Air Varanasi–Mumbai Flight, Arrested

A security scare unfolded at Varanasi airport on Monday evening when a passenger allegedly attempted to open the emergency exit door of an Akasa Air flight before takeoff. The quick response of the cabin crew and ground staff prevented what could have been a serious incident.

Incident Before Departure

The incident took place on Akasa Air's flight QP 1497, which was scheduled to depart from Varanasi to Mumbai at 6.45 pm. The passenger, identified as Sujit Singh from Gaura Badshahpur in Jaunpur district, was seated inside the aircraft when he tried to tamper with the emergency exit door cover before the plane had even started its journey.

An Akasa Air spokesperson told ANI, "A passenger on flight QP 1497, scheduled to operate from Varanasi to Mumbai on November 03, 2025, attempted to open an emergency exit door cover without authorisation while the aircraft was still stationary at the parking bay."

Crew Action and Passenger Detention

Cabin crew immediately noticed the suspicious act and alerted the pilot. The pilot then informed Air Traffic Control and taxied the aircraft back to the parking bay. Once the aircraft was stationary, security personnel boarded the plane, and the passenger was offloaded.

The airline followed all safety procedures before continuing the journey. "The individual was identified, and in line with standard operating protocols, was offloaded and handed over to the relevant authorities. All passengers and crew are safe. The aircraft was thoroughly inspected and cleared by our engineering team before the flight departed at 2100hrs," added the spokesperson.

Police Statement and Arrest

Following the incident, Sujit Singh was taken into custody by the security team and later handed over to the local police for questioning. Phoolpur Station House Officer Praveen Kumar Singh said the passenger claimed he attempted to open the door "out of curiosity." Authorities subsequently arrested him for his actions.

Flight Resumes After Delay

All passengers were escorted off the aircraft as a precautionary measure while engineers conducted safety checks. The flight was cleared for departure after the inspection and left for Mumbai around 7.45 pm.

Thanks to the vigilance of the cabin crew and airport officials, a potential safety threat was quickly contained, and the passengers reached their destination safely.