US EditionAir India Express passenger on flight to Varanasi tries to enter cockpit while looking for toilet
A passenger seeking the lavatory attempted to open the cockpit door on an Air India Express flight; security protocols prevented access and authorities are investigating.
- On September 22, a passenger aboard Air India Express flight IX-1086 from Bengaluru to Varanasi tried to open the cockpit door mid‑flight and was stopped by crew before being handed to the Central Industrial Security Force on arrival.
- The passenger said he was looking for the lavatory and reportedly mistook the cockpit door for the toilet, and he was travelling with eight companions in a group of nine pilgrims from Bengaluru.
- The cockpit’s passcode‑controlled locking system requires captain approval, and cabin crew intercepted the passenger after he failed to enter the correct passcode, restraining him until landing.
- Authorities said the incident was reported on landing and is being investigated, with luggage re-checked, while Air India Express may seek strict penalties including a two-year flying ban and placement on the national no-fly list.
- This episode adds to a growing number of unruly‑passenger cases and renews calls for strict vigilance, with industry experts highlighting aviation security concerns after a September 5 PAN‑PAN call on Air India Express.
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Air India Express scare: Why a flier tried to enter the airplane's cockpit
A flier on Air India Express flight IX-1086 from Bengaluru to Varanasi tried to open the cockpit door, creating a security scare. The airline says the man approached the cockpit by mistake, thinking it was the lavatory. The airline can reportedly put him on the no-fly list
A passenger on an Air India Express flight from Bengaluru to Varanasi attempted to force open the cockpit door. The airline stated that the passenger accidentally entered the cockpit while searching for the restroom. There were no compromises to safety protocols during the flight.
Air India Express passenger tries to enter flight cockpit, says he was looking for toilet
A midair scare was witnessed aboard an Air India Express flight from Bengaluru to Varanasi after a passenger allegedly tried to open the cockpit door while going to the lavatory, an airline spokesperson said. The flyer was stopped before he could enter the cockpit and was handed over to the authorities upon landing in Varanasi, ANI has reported. "We are aware of media reports regarding an incident on one of our flights to Varanasi, where a passe…
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