A passenger aboard an Akasa Air flight from Varanasi to Mumbai was detained after attempting to open the aircraft's emergency exit before takeoff, officials said on Tuesday (Nov 4). The incident occurred on flight QP 1497, which was scheduled to depart Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport at 6:45 p.m. on Monday. 

As the aircraft was taxiing toward the runway, the passenger, identified as Sujit Singh, a resident of Gaura Badshahpur in Jaunpur district, tried to open the emergency exit, police said.

Following a report from the cabin crew, the pilot informed Air Traffic Control (ATC) and returned the aircraft to the apron. Security personnel escorted all passengers off the plane and took Singh into custody for questioning.

Phoolpur Station House Officer (SHO) Praveen Kumar Singh said the passenger told investigators he had attempted to open the exit "out of curiosity." Singh has since been booked, the officer added. The flight eventually departed for Mumbai at approximately 7:45 p.m. after receiving security clearance.