Tripura: IndiGo passenger arrested for trying to open emergency exit midair

A passenger on an IndiGo flight was arrested on September 21 at the Agartala airport for allegedly trying to open the emergency exit door of the aircraft midair and misbehaving with the crew members, the police said.

Tripura police spokesman Jyotisman Das Chowdhury said that Biswajit Debnath (41) was flying on a Guwahati-Agartala IndiGo flight when he tried to open the emergency exit of the aircraft before his co-passengers pulled him back.

“When the crew members asked him to take his seat, Debnath misbehaved with them. The co-passengers alleged that Debnath was under the influence of drugs,” Das Chowdhury told media.

Debnath was arrested by the airport police after the flight landed at the Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport in Agartala.

Speaking with India Today NE, Additional Inspector General of Police, Jyotishman Das Chowdhury said the person is a resident of Jirania in Agartala and was returning from Hyderabad, transiting through Guwahati en route to Agartala.

“As the flight was in the final stages of landing, Debnath tried to open one of the emergency doors. A courageous air hostess leapt into action, rallying support from fellow passengers to subdue him. Despite Debnath's unruly behaviour and persistent attempts to reach the handle, resolute passengers managed to restrain him, albeit resulting in some injuries. We are suspecting he is a drug addicted”, said the cop.

He further informed that soon the air craft landed Indigo and CISF personnel in Agartala detained him and handed him over to Tripura police.