New Delhi: A passenger on a Pune-bound IndiGo flight allegedly tampered with the emergency exit mechanism shortly after the aircraft took off from Delhi, triggering an alarm and causing panic among passengers, police said on Tuesday.

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The incident took place on Monday aboard IndiGo flight 6E6884, which was heading to Pune. The passenger, identified as Gaurav Satyendra Routela, 33, a resident of Saswad, was seated near the emergency exit when he allegedly interfered with the cover of the exit door lever, an official said.

During questioning, Routela reportedly told police that he had touched the cover out of curiosity to find out what it was, without realising that it was connected to the emergency exit, senior inspector Govind Pawar of the Airport Police Station told PTI.

The action triggered an alarm onboard, creating panic among passengers, Pawar said. He added that any interference with the emergency exit mechanism could put the lives and safety of other passengers at risk.

The flight departed from Delhi at around 12.45 am on Monday and landed in Pune at approximately 2 am.

Following a complaint filed by a member of the flight crew, police registered a case against Routela under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with acts done rashly or negligently that endanger human life or the personal safety of others, and relevant provisions of the Aircraft Act.

Police have served him a notice under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and further investigation is underway, the official said.