A 33-year-old passenger allegedly tampered with the emergency exit lever cover aboard an IndiGo flight shortly after it took off from Delhi, triggering an alarm and causing panic among passengers, police said on Tuesday.
The incident took place on Monday aboard flight 6E6884, which was headed to Pune. The passenger, identified as Gaurav Satyendra Routela, a resident of Saswad, was seated near the emergency exit when he allegedly touched the cover.
During questioning, Routela reportedly told investigators that he had handled the cover out of curiosity and was unaware that it was linked to the emergency exit mechanism.
The passenger’s action triggered an alarm onboard, prompting concern among those on the flight. Police said interference with emergency exit equipment could put the lives and safety of passengers at risk.
The flight departed Delhi at around 12.45 am on Monday and landed in Pune at approximately 2 am.
Following a complaint filed by a crew member, police registered a case against Routela under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with acts of rashness or negligence that endanger human life or the personal safety of others, along with relevant provisions of the Aircraft Act.
Police have issued him a notice under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Further investigation into the incident is underway.
