An Air Arabia passenger opened an emergency exit and jumped onto the runway after landing in Chennai, causing brief disruption
A passenger on an Air Arabia flight from Sharjah opened an emergency exit and jumped onto the runway at Chennai International Airport shortly after landing early on Sunday, May 3.
According to news reports, Flight G9 471, operated by an Airbus A320, touched down at about 3:23am. As the aircraft taxied towards its designated parking bay, the passenger opened the emergency exit door and jumped onto the taxiway while the plane was still moving slowly.
Security personnel responded immediately. The man was chased on the runway and detained. He sustained minor abrasions and was treated on site before being taken for questioning. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew, and there was no damage to the aircraft.
The pilot alerted ground authorities immediately after the breach, which triggered a response from the Central Industrial Security Force. The passenger was later handed over to local police, reports said.
Airport operations felt the impact, although only briefly. The main runway was closed at 3:25am as a precaution, according to reports, with some flights delayed and others redirected to a secondary runway. Normal operations resumed after about an hour.
There are still questions around what led to the incident. Reports said the passenger had complained of nausea during the flight, although it is not yet clear if this played a role. Authorities have also not officially confirmed his identity, though some local media reports have named a 29 year old man. Investigations are now under way to understand how the emergency exit was opened during taxiing and whether all safety procedures were followed. The incident has, meanwhile, raised fresh concerns around passenger behaviour and airside safety.
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