Panic on Akasa Air flight: Passenger tries to open emergency exit at Varanasi airport; says he did it 'out of curiosity'

VARANASI: A passenger on an Akasa Air flight from Varanasi to Mumbai was detained after he allegedly tried to open the aircraft's emergency exit before takeoff, officials said on Tuesday.The incident occurred aboard flight QP 1497, which was scheduled to depart for Mumbai at 6:45 pm on Monday from Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport.While taxiing toward the runway, a passenger, Sujit Singh, a resident of Gaura Badshahpur in Jaunpur district, attempted to open the emergency exit, police said.Alerted by the cabin crew, the pilot informed Air Traffic Control (ATC) and returned the aircraft to the apron. Security personnel escorted all passengers off the plane and took Singh into custody for questioning, the police added.Phoolpur Station House Officer (SHO) Praveen Kumar Singh said the passenger told investigators that he attempted to open the exit "out of curiosity." Singh has been booked, the officer confirmed.The flight departed for Mumbai around 7:45 pm after receiving security clearance.(With agency inputs)