Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad
Hyderabad, Oct 2: An alleged attempt by a passenger to open the emergency door of an aircraft while it was preparing for take-off created a scare at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Shamshabad, Telangana, early Friday.
The incident occurred while passengers were boarding an IndiGo flight bound for Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh.
After airline staff alerted authorities, the passenger was deboarded and later handed over to RGIA Police.
According to police, the passenger was shifted from the ninth row to the second row during boarding. The second row was an emergency exit seating area. While settling into his seat, he touched the emergency exit handle, triggering a security sensor alarm.
A case has been registered at the RGIA Police Station. The passenger told police that he had unintentionally touched the emergency exit handle. Further investigation was underway.
The incident comes after a similar episode at Kochi airport on August 6, when a traveller allegedly damaged an emergency exit window panel and attempted to tamper with the emergency exit door while a flight was preparing to land.
The incident occurred aboard Batik Air flight OD231 from Kuala Lumpur to Kochi. Police arrested the passenger, identified as Jamsheer Athanikkal.
He was booked under Section 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (criminal intimidation), Section 11A of the Aircraft Act (failure to comply with any direction issued) and Section 118(e) of the Kerala Police Act (knowingly doing an act that causes danger to the public or failure in public safety).
The latest incident at RGIA also came a couple of days after an attack on the captain of a flydubai flight by a co-pilot in an alleged attempt to hijack a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight.
The co-pilot was overpowered by passengers who entered the cockpit after the pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar, raised an alarm. Two flydubai pilots travelling as passengers subsequently helped land the aircraft.
According to reports, the aircraft dropped 17,400 feet in less than two minutes before the flight was diverted to Tabuk airport in northern Saudi Arabia.
The Indian pilot, who was injured in the attack, has been hailed as a hero for thwarting the suspected hijacking attempt.