'BJP leader opened emergency exit of IndiGo plane on Dec 10', alleges Tamil Nadu minister

In yet another incident involving IndiGo airline, a passenger, who reports said was a BJP Member of Parliament, traveling on December 10 IndiGo flight 6E-7339 opened the emergency door of the plane following which the passengers were deboarded. The aircraft then underwent mandatory engineering checks because of which the flight was delayed by a few hours.

Chennai: A BJP Member of Parliament who was accompanied by another senior BJP leader created major panic among other passengers by opening the emergency door of an IndiGo flight back in December. The situation was pacified after the authorities conducted a pressurization check though the passengers had to be deplaned and made to wait for a few hours before the flight took off.

• கடந்த 10ஆம் தேதி ‘போட்டோஷாப்’ கட்சியின் மாநிலத் தலைவரும், இளைஞரணியின் தேசியத் தலைவரும் விமானத்தில் கிளம்பும் போது பொறுப்பே இல்லாமல் விமானத்தின் ‘எமர்ஜென்சி’ கதவை திறந்து விளையாடியிருக்கிறார்கள்.
  
  விதிமுறைகளின்படி பயணிகள் விமானத்தில் இருந்து இறக்கி மீண்டும் சோதனை (1/2)

  — V.Senthilbalaji (@V_Senthilbalaji) December 29, 2022 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  கடந்த 10ஆம் தேதி ‘போட்டோஷாப்’ கட்சியின் மாநிலத் தலைவரும், இளைஞரணியின் தேசியத் தலைவரும் விமானத்தில் கிளம்பும் போது பொறுப்பே இல்லாமல் விமானத்தின் ‘எமர்ஜென்சி’ கதவை திறந்து விளையாடியிருக்கிறார்கள்.
  
  விதிமுறைகளின்படி பயணிகள் விமானத்தில் இருந்து இறக்கி மீண்டும் சோதனை (1/2)

  — V.Senthilbalaji (@V_Senthilbalaji) December 29, 2022

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  கடந்த 10ஆம் தேதி ‘போட்டோஷாப்’ கட்சியின் மாநிலத் தலைவரும், இளைஞரணியின் தேசியத் தலைவரும் விமானத்தில் கிளம்பும் போது பொறுப்பே இல்லாமல் விமானத்தின் ‘எமர்ஜென்சி’ கதவை திறந்து விளையாடியிருக்கிறார்கள்.
  
  விதிமுறைகளின்படி பயணிகள் விமானத்தில் இருந்து இறக்கி மீண்டும் சோதனை (1/2)

  — V.Senthilbalaji (@V_Senthilbalaji) December 29, 2022

The incident happened on December 10 on the IndiGo 6E flight 6E-7339, traveling from Chennai to Trivandrum. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that necessary measures were followed after the incident came to light in the flight and no safety was compromised.

According to a statement issued by Indigo Airlines on Tuesday, the passenger "accidentally" opened the emergency exit during the boarding process. "The passenger immediately apologised for the action. As per SOPs, the incident was logged and the aircraft underwent mandatory engineering checks, which led to a delay in the flight's departure," said the airline.

"The event was duly reported. It appears that by mistake, the RH emergency exit got opened by a passenger while the Aircraft was on ground. The crew took note and resultantly, all appropriate airworthiness action such as reinstalling of door, pressurization check etc were carried out before the release of the Aircraft for departure. No safety was compromised," said a senior DGCA official on Tuesday.

Both IndiGo and the DGCA, however, did not identify the passenger who opened the door. However, Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balaji had on December 29 tweeted about it alleging that the passenger was a BJP leader. "On the 10th, the state president of the 'Photoshop' party and the national president of Youth Wing had irresponsibly opened the 'emergency' door of the plane while taking off. Passengers disembark and recheck as per regulations.

The flight was delayed by 3 hours. Since it is a hereditary custom to write an apology letter, they have written an apology letter even that day. Why is this news not in the media?" read the translation of his tweets in Tamil.

Going by his tweet, Senthil was referring to Bengaluru South Lok Sabha MP and Tamil Nadu BJP President. Reports quoting co-passengers said both of them were on the flight and one MP did open the emergency door when the crew was giving security instructions.

"He was listening to it carefully and minutes after that he pulled the lever resulting in the opening of the emergency exit. Immediately, we were all deplaned and made to sit in a bus,” a news portal quoted one passenger as saying. Following it, the MP was made to apologise in writing and allowed to travel on the same plane. He, however, was allotted a different seat, reports said.

Clause 22 (b) of The Aircraft Rules, 1937 refers to such incidents. It reads: No person shall, on board an aircraft, refuse to follow a lawful instruction given by the Pilot-in-Command, or on behalf of the Pilotin-Command by a crew member, for the purpose of ensuring the safety of the aircraft or of any person or property on board or for the purpose of maintaining good order and discipline on board. Clause 23(1)(b) talks about assault and other acts endangering safety or jeopardising good order and discipline by intentionally causing damage to or destroying any property.

The IndiGo incident is another in a series of such incidents in the recent past involving passengers creating a ruckus within the flight. The infamous pee-gate incident wherein the accused Shankar Mishra was arrested has still not let off steam as it continues to appear in the headlines with newer developments each day. Meanwhile, another incident wherein two drunk passengers caused havoc on a Patna-bound IndiGo flight from Delhi had made it to the headlines about a week ago.