Passenger arrested for attempting to open emergency exit on Kuala Lumpur-Kochi flight
A man on Batik Air flight OD 231 tried to force open the aircraft’s emergency door mid-air, was restrained, and was taken into custody after landing in Kochi.
During a Batik Air service from Kuala Lumpur to Kochi, passenger Jamsheer Athanikkal tried to force the aircraft’s emergency exit open while the plane was airborne, damaging the door’s window and alarming fellow travelers. The incident occurred between 9.30 pm and 11.05 pm, prompting crew and other passengers to restrain him before further harm could occur. After the aircraft touched down at Cochin International Airport at 2.40 am, CISF personnel arrested Athanikkal and transferred him to Nedumbassery police.
A medical check indicated he was not intoxicated. Authorities filed a complaint citing criminal intimidation, violation of aircraft safety rules, and public safety endangerment. The airline inspected and repaired the aircraft before clearing it for its return flight.
Why it matters
The incident highlights risks to aviation safety and the legal consequences of endangering passengers on commercial flights.
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