Passengers aboard a Sharjah–Chennai Air Arabia flight were left stunned early this morning after a man opened an emergency exit door and jumped out while the aircraft was taxiing at Chennai International Airport.
According to airport officials, the incident occurred shortly after landing, when the aircraft had already exited the main runway and was moving slowly along a taxiway. The sudden act triggered panic among passengers and prompted an immediate security response.
A senior airport official confirmed that the plane was still in motion at the time, but clarified that there were no injuries or damage to the aircraft. The incident did not take place on the main runway.Preliminary reports suggest the passenger may have been unwell during the flight. He reportedly complained of nausea and is believed to have vomited twice on board, which could have influenced his actions.
The pilot quickly alerted ground security, following which personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) responded and secured the individual. He has since been handed over to the police for further investigation.
Airport operations were briefly affected, with the main runway shut between 3:23 am and 4:23 am as a precaution. During this period, flights were diverted to a secondary runway.While the passenger’s identity is yet to be officially confirmed, unverified reports indicate he may be from Pudukkottai district in Tamil Nadu.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the breach of aviation safety protocols.
Despite the alarming nature of the incident, officials confirmed there were no injuries to passengers or crew, and no damage to the aircraft.