Chennai: Tension briefly gripped Chennai International Airport on Sunday morning after a passenger allegedly opened an emergency exit door while the aircraft was taxiing on the runway. The incident took place on an Air Arabia flight that had arrived from Sharjah with 231 passengers on board, as reported by news agency PTI.
Incident Details
According to officials, the aircraft was moving along the taxiway—the path connecting the runway and the terminal—when a 34-year-old passenger from Pudukkottai allegedly opened one of the emergency exit doors. The pilot immediately stopped the aircraft and alerted airport authorities. Soon after, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, along with bomb disposal experts and armed officers, rushed to the spot where the aircraft had halted.
Security Response
The pilot later lodged a formal complaint regarding the incident. Security personnel boarded the aircraft, detained the passenger, and took him into custody. Officials stated that the passenger is being questioned, and his mental condition is also being assessed. The swift action by the pilot and security forces ensured that the situation was brought under control without any further escalation.
The incident highlights the critical importance of adhering to safety protocols on aircraft. Emergency exit doors are designed to be used only in emergencies, and tampering with them during flight or taxiing can pose serious risks to passengers and crew. Authorities are investigating the motive behind the passenger's actions and whether any underlying mental health issues contributed to the incident.
Chennai International Airport, one of the busiest airports in India, operates numerous domestic and international flights daily. The airport has robust security measures in place, and this incident underscores the vigilance required to maintain safety standards. The detained passenger remains in custody as investigations continue.
