Ghost on a Flight: The IndiGo Passenger Who Tried to Open the Emergency Exit Door
You know, I’ve been covering aviation in this country long enough to think I’ve seen it all. Delays, technical glitches, the occasional unruly passenger because of a seat reclining issue—that’s the usual fare. But what went down on that IndiGo flight from Bengaluru to Varanasi earlier this week? That’s the kind of story that makes you put down your coffee and just stare at the Flightradar24 feed in disbelief.
It was March 29, a routine 6E flight heading north. The cabin lights were dimmed, the seatbelt sign was off, and everyone was in that post-dinner, mid-air lull. And then, absolute chaos. A male passenger, later identified as a 32-year-old from Bengaluru, suddenly got up, ran towards the emergency exit door, and started frantically trying to yank the handle open. We’re talking about cruising altitude here, folks—the kind of pressure that makes that door a fortress unless you’re a trained professional or have a death wish. The cabin crew, who honestly deserve a medal, reacted instantly. They wrestled him away from the door before he could do any serious damage.
Now, here’s where this flight story goes from scary to surreal. When the crew and other passengers pinned him down, they asked him what in the name of god he was thinking. His reply? He said a ghost was telling him to open the door. He claimed he was possessed. I’ve been in this business for a decade, and I’ve heard some wild excuses for bad behaviour—but blaming a spirit for trying to cause a mass casualty event at 35,000 feet is a new one.
The captain wasn’t taking any chances. The aircraft was immediately diverted? No, actually, they made a calculated call. Given the situation was under control and the nearest airport wasn't a huge detour, they continued to Varanasi, but the moment they touched down, the police were waiting on the tarmac. No VIP exit for this guy.
The "Possession" Plea and the Arrest
The man was taken into custody. Word from the local police station has it that he stuck to his story—insisting he was under the influence of some supernatural force. Whether it was a mental health episode or just the worst excuse in aviation history, the fact remains that he attempted to compromise the safety of over 150 people. He’s been booked under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for endangering life. Flight Club discussions online have been buzzing, with frequent flyers saying this is exactly why they always scope out who’s sitting near the emergency row during boarding.
I’ve pulled up the AA Route Planner for that sector myself—it’s a standard route, nothing unusual about the airspace. So this wasn’t about turbulence or weather. This was purely about a passenger losing it in the worst possible way.
Let’s be honest, as frequent flyers in India, we’re used to the chaos of boarding, the endless rush at security, and the thrill of spotting your aircraft on the tarmac. But this incident is a stark reminder of a few things:
- Security is more than just baggage scanners: How do we screen for intentions? This man wasn't carrying a weapon, but he was carrying a delusion that could have killed us all.
- The crew is your first line of defence: In that moment, the cabin crew weren’t just serving meals. They were physically preventing a disaster. Their training saved that flight.
- Mental health awareness in transit: We often talk about delays and cancellations, but we rarely discuss the psychological pressure that flying can induce in some individuals.
In the end, the Varanasi-bound flight landed safely. But if you were on that IndiGo plane, I bet the scariest part wasn’t the landing—it was looking at the emergency exit door for the rest of the journey and wondering what if. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is bound to take a hard look at this. They usually do when someone tries to turn an aircraft into a flying tin can with a hole in it. For now, the man remains in custody, and the rest of us are left with one more wild story to tell at the airport lounge. Just another Tuesday on Indian skies, I guess.