Chennai Airport Shocker: Passenger Opens Emergency Exit, Jumps Off Taxiing Air Arabia Flight
Chennai Airport Shocker: Passenger Opens Emergency Exit, Jumps Off Taxiing Air Arabia Flight
Mid-runway scare triggers panic onboard; man arrested as authorities probe mental condition
Passengers aboard an Air Arabia flight from Sharjah to Chennai had a terrifying experience after a man opened an emergency exit door and jumped off the aircraft while it was still taxiing on the runway early Sunday morning.
The incident occurred shortly after the flight, carrying around 231 passengers, had landed at Chennai International Airport and was moving along the taxiway. A 34-year-old male passenger allegedly opened the emergency exit door without warning, triggering panic inside the aircraft.
The pilot immediately halted the aircraft and alerted airport authorities. Security personnel, including teams from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), rushed to the spot and quickly secured the situation.
Officials confirmed that the passenger jumped off while the aircraft was still moving slowly. Despite the alarming nature of the incident, there was no damage to the aircraft and no injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
Today early morning, a person opened the emergency exit door and jumped out of an Air Arabia A320 (flight G9471) while it was on the taxiway after landing at Chennai Airport.
— WingX Aviation (@wingXaviation) May 3, 2026
He was later traced and apprehended by security. pic.twitter.com/kNSuKXcHrY
Preliminary information suggests the passenger may have been unwell during the journey. He reportedly complained of nausea and is believed to have vomited twice onboard before the incident. Authorities are now examining whether his medical or mental condition contributed to the act.
The man has been taken into custody, and a detailed investigation is underway to determine how he was able to access and operate the emergency exit during taxiing—a serious breach of aviation safety protocols.
The episode also briefly disrupted airport operations. As a precaution, the main runway was temporarily shut for nearly an hour, with flights being diverted to a secondary runway.
Aviation experts note that emergency exit doors are designed with multiple safety checks and are not meant to be operated during taxiing. Any such action can pose significant risk to passengers and crew.
This incident comes months after a similar scare on an IndiGo flight, where a passenger allegedly attempted to open an emergency exit mid-air, highlighting growing concerns around in-flight safety and passenger behaviour.
Authorities are expected to review security procedures and onboard monitoring following this incident to prevent such breaches in the future.
