Chennai Airport: Passenger opens emergency exit on moving Sharjah-bound flight

A passenger arriving from the United Arab Emirates triggered a security scare at Chennai International Airport when he opened an emergency exit door on a moving Air Arabia aircraft during taxiing. The flight had landed from Sharjah around 3:45 a.m. and was on its way to the gate when the door was opened and the evacuation slide deployed, according to officials familiar with the incident. The passenger then ran on the tarmac toward the gate, prompting an immediate security response and questions about aviation safety during taxiing.

The aircraft, carrying 231 people, was diverted to Bengaluru after the incident, and the main runway 07/25 was temporarily closed as a safety precaution. Airport authorities later resumed normal operations, but security teams detained the 34-year-old passenger for questioning and to assess his mental state. Officials did not report any injuries related to the incident, though the disruption caused delays for other flights and prompted discussions on passenger behavior and airport security protocols.

Security forces acted swiftly to contain the situation, escorting the individual off the aircraft and initiating standard procedures for mental health evaluation. The incident has drawn attention to the need for strict adherence to taxiing safety norms and the potential impact on other flights when an emergency exit is opened on a moving aircraft.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the sequence of events, including why the passenger chose to act as the aircraft was taxiing and whether there were any contributing factors. Passengers on the diverted services and those affected by the runway closure were kept informed as operations transitioned back to normal.

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