IndiGo mid‑air scare: Passenger tries to open emergency exit twice, claims was ‘possessed by Ghost’

Varanasi: A routine flight from Bengaluru to Varanasi turned into a mid-air scare on Saturday night when a passenger allegedly tried to open the emergency exit door not once, but twice, later claiming he was “possessed by a ghost.”

The incident occurred on IndiGo flight 6E‑185, which departed Bengaluru at around 8:15 pm. Officials identified the passenger as Mohammad Adnan, a resident of Mau district in Uttar Pradesh. Approximately 15 minutes after takeoff, Adnan attempted to tamper with an emergency exit door. Cabin crew quickly intervened, warning him to refrain from such actions.

Adnan reportedly remained calm for most of the flight, but trouble resurfaced moments before landing. At about 10:20 pm, with the plane just 500 feet above Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi, Adnan again tried to open the emergency exit door. The crew alerted the pilot, who aborted the landing and performed a go-around as a precaution. The aircraft later landed safely at 10:35 pm, with no injuries reported.

Passengers described the event as “frightening,” but praised the crew for their quick response and professionalism, which ensured a safe landing despite the scare.

Following standard safety protocol, Adnan was immediately handed over to CISF personnel and airline security, and the Varanasi police registered a case against him. During initial questioning, Adnan admitted he did not know why he acted the way he did. He later claimed he had been “possessed by a ghost” and also said he was unaware that the handle he pulled controlled the emergency exit door. Authorities added that he was returning from a vacation in Goa at the time.

A police official confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, and Adnan’s family has been informed and is on their way to Varanasi.