A passenger aboard an Air India Express flight from Bengaluru to Varanasi on Monday tried to open the cockpit door mid-air but was stopped after incorrectly entering the security code. The passenger reportedly told the crew he had mistaken the cockpit door for the lavatory.
“The matter was reported to the relevant authorities upon landing and is under investigation,” an Air India spokesperson said.
Security officials confirmed that the passenger, identified only as “Mr Mani,” attempted to access the cockpit by pressing the security code. The crew intervened, and the pilot denied access, citing concerns over a potential hijack, and immediately alerted Air Traffic Control.
Mani, along with eight of his fellow passengers traveling in the same group, were taken into custody upon landing and handed over to Uttar Pradesh Police at Varanasi. Air India Express stated that its safety and security protocols were not compromised and that the incident is being thoroughly investigated. The passenger was also handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as per protocol.
This incident comes a day after an Air India flight from London to Delhi was delayed when a passenger’s boarding pass was stamped, but the individual was not on board. The plane had to return to the gate before takeoff, causing a two-hour delay.