Monday, March 27, 2023
  • Login
The South First
Advertisement
  • Home
  • States
    • Andhra Pradesh
    • Karnataka
    • Kerala
    • Tamil Nadu
    • Telangana
  • Politics
    • Behind the News
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Health
  • Videos
  • Dakshin Dialogues
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • States
    • Andhra Pradesh
    • Karnataka
    • Kerala
    • Tamil Nadu
    • Telangana
  • Politics
    • Behind the News
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Health
  • Videos
  • Dakshin Dialogues
No Result
View All Result
The South First
No Result
View All Result

Home » Karnataka » Emergency exit unlocked on-board Indigo flight, co-passenger claims it was BJP MP Tejasvi Surya

Emergency exit unlocked on-board Indigo flight, co-passenger claims it was BJP MP Tejasvi Surya

The MP from Bengaluru South neither confirmed nor denied the incident, insisted he would respond only if Indigo or DGCA made an official statement.

Anusha Ravi SoodbyAnusha Ravi Sood
Published:17/01/2023 12:42 pm - Updated on 03/03/2023 4:57 pm
A A
BJP MP and Yuva Morcha National President Tejasvi Surya at party event in Trichy on 10 December, 2022. (Twitter: Tejasvi Surya)

BJP MP and Yuva Morcha National President Tejasvi Surya at party event in Trichy on 10 December, 2022. (Twitter: Tejasvi Surya)

In what should have been seen as a violation of air safety norms, a passenger onboard an Indigo flight unlocked the emergency exit while the aircraft was being readied for takeoff.

A co-passenger on the flight has alleged that the passenger who unlocked the emergency exit was BJP MP Tejasvi Surya.

The first-time MP from Bengaluru South constituency is also the National president of the BJP Yuva Morcha, youth wing of the BJP.

The incident took place on Indigo flight 6E 7339 on 10 December, 2022.

The ATR 72-600 aircraft flying from Chennai to Trichy was scheduled to take off at 10.05 am but was delayed by 142 minutes after a passenger “accidentally” pulled down the lever and unlocked the emergency exit.

Till the publication of this report, no official statement had come from Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) about the possible violation of safety norms.

When South First reached out to Tejasvi Surya, the BJP MP neither confirmed nor denied the incident and insisted that he would respond only if DGCA or Indigo airlines put out an official statement.

The claims come at a time questions are already being raised on Indian air travellers and airlines’ commitment to report incidents and accidents on-board flights.

More than 24 hours after South First‘s query over the incident to DGCA via email, news agency ANI quoting DGCA officials said an inquiry had been ordered into the incident.

On Dec 10th, a passenger opened the emergency door creating a scare among passengers in IndiGo 6E flight 6E-7339 from Chennai to Trivandrum. The flight took off after pressurisation checks soon after. DGCA has ordered a probe into the matter: DGCA

— ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2023

Also read: Who is BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa, Yediyurappa loyalist whose son was caught taking bribes?

What happened on Flight 6E 7339?

Speaking to South First, a resident of Chennai, who was on-board the flight, detailed what transpired. The identity of the eyewitness has been withheld as requested by them.

According to the 33-year-old, the flight from Chennai to Trichy on 10 December, 2022, was already delayed by 40 minutes as Chennai airport was witnessing heavy traffic following the impact of cyclone Mandous the previous day.

“This was a small aircraft, an ATR, and it was a packed flight with around 70 passengers. Once all the passengers had been boarded, BJP Tamil Nadu President K Annamalai and BJP MP Tejasvi Surya entered the aircraft. They sat on the first-row emergency exit seats on the right,” said the eyewitness, who was on an aisle seat nearby.

“The cabin crew gave them a special briefing meant for the emergency row. After the briefing, the two started talking to each other and in a quick moment, MP Tejasvi Surya placed his hand on the lever as if holding a gripping handle of a car and pulled it down. The emergency exit door came undone. The aircraft was already taxiing towards the runway when this happened,” the passenger told South First.

Also Read: Tejasvi Surya reviews a dosa as Bengaluru reels under floods

What does Indigo say?

South First reached out to Indigo airlines to cross-check the details of the incident.

“It was a mistake,” sources in Indigo said in describing the incident.

“Someone had opened the emergency exit and immediately the crew intervened, and due process was followed. The aircraft was sent for thorough inspection as per norms. Only after all procedures were followed was the aircraft ready for departure,” the Indigo source said.

“The said passenger apologised to the crew and gave an apology in writing. The passenger was vacated from the exit row seat and seated elsewhere, as per norms. Details of the passenger cannot be revealed,” official sources from Indigo said, while acknowledging that the airline had not issued any official statement about the very serious incident.

It is unclear if Indigo had reported the matter to DGCA.

“The passenger wrote an apology and the issue was deemed closed,” the source added.

The eyewitness who spoke to South First confirmed that the MP apologised to all the passengers and the crew members for what he said was an “inadvertent mistake” causing undue delay.

“After the emergency exit was unlocked, all the passengers were de-planed. We were shifted to a bus on the tarmac while security personnel and airlines technical team checked the aircraft. We had to wait in the bus for nearly two hours. It was in the bus that MP Tejasvi Surya wrote an apology letter to the airlines. On the insistence of BJP Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai, he even apologised to all the passengers. Had it been a common citizen who did the same mistake, would they be off the hook?” the passenger sought to know.

The incident led to severe delay of departure and arrival. The flight that was scheduled to take off from Chennai at 10.05 am finally took off only at 12.27 PM. It was scheduled to arrive in Trichy at 11.15 am but landed only at 1.23 pm.

What the MP, DGCA said

When South First reached out to Tejasvi Surya, the MP neither confirmed nor denied the incident but insisted that he would respond only if DGCA or Indigo airlines put out an official statement.

More than a month since the incident, neither DGCA nor Indigo airlines has made any official statement on the possible air safety violation.

On 10 December, 2022, Tejasvi Surya along with K Annamalai had travelled to Trichy to participate in the BJYM Tamil Nadu State Executive meeting.

Addressed BJYM Tamil Nadu State Executive Meeting in Trichy

BJYM is a great platform for capacity building of young political activists

Urged karyakartas to read more, learn new skills, reach out to young of all sections, especially the poorest & cultivate empathetic leadership pic.twitter.com/BB14Q4tWrK

— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) December 10, 2022

South First reached out to Tejasvi Surya’s co-passenger from the day and BJP Tamil Nadu unit chief K Annamalai but his staff claimed unavailability citing the BJP’s National Executive meeting at New Delhi.

South First reached out to officials of DGCA via phone call and email.

While even Director level officers said they weren’t “authorised to comment”, the regulatory body’s Director General’s office acknowledged the receipt of South First‘s email but was yet to respond at the time of publishing this report.

DGCA, however, was quoted by news agencies as stating that an inquiry had been ordered into the incident. The DGCA is yet to respond to specific questions raised by South First.

This report will be updated with DGCA’s response, when there is one.

Past incidents

As per DGCA’s rules notified in the Civil Aviation Requirements Section 5 on Air safety dated 20 October, 2015, reporting of incidents, accidents and investigations are mandatory on all scheduled and non-scheduled flights.

In this case, it is unclear if Indigo has apprised DGCA of the incident. Similar instances in the past have been dealt with an iron hand.

In March 2021, when a passenger aboard a SpiceJet aircraft travelling from New Delhi to Varanasi attempted to open the emergency exit mid-air, he was restrained and handed over to the police after landing.

In February 2017, an FIR was filed against a passenger on board an Indigo flight from Mumbai to Chandigarh for opening the emergency exit and injuring a co-passenger in the process.

In September 2011, when a passenger “inadvertently” opened the emergency exit door on-board a Kingfisher Airlines flight to Delhi, the crew de-planed the passenger and handed him over to airport authorities.

 

Don't miss our top stories!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more information.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Recommended For You

Amit Shah Hyderabad
Karnataka

Amit Shah defends Bommai Cabinet decision to scrap quota for minorities, blames Congress

March 27, 2023
Karnataka

Karnataka BJP sees its fortunes swing in its Achilles heel, the Old Mysore region

March 27, 2023
malayalam actor innocent
Entertainment

Who is Innocent? Malayalam actor and former MP from Kerala breathes his last

March 26, 2023
Protest organised by Karnataka Congress. (Supplied)
Karnataka

Congress holds nationwide protests over the disqualification of Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi

March 26, 2023
D Srinivas, son D Sanjay with Telangana Congress leaders. (Twitter)
Andhra Pradesh

Former Andhra Pradesh Congress president D Srinivas rejoins party with son D Sanjay

March 26, 2023
Lakshadweep MP's plea
Kerala

Lakshadweep MP moves SC against Lok Sabha Secretariat not withdrawing disqualification notice

March 26, 2023

Top Stories

Karnataka BJP sees its fortunes swing in its Achilles heel, the Old Mysore region

March 27, 2023
Protest organised by Karnataka Congress. (Supplied)

Congress holds nationwide protests over the disqualification of Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi

March 26, 2023
BRS Maharashtra

Looking to branch out, BRS to contest zilla parishad elections in Maharashtra

March 26, 2023

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receive daily updates direct to your inbox.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Like and Follow

Follow @TheSouthfirst

Latest

Amit Shah Hyderabad

Amit Shah defends Bommai Cabinet decision to scrap quota for minorities, blames Congress

March 27, 2023

Karnataka BJP sees its fortunes swing in its Achilles heel, the Old Mysore region

March 27, 2023
malayalam actor innocent

Who is Innocent? Malayalam actor and former MP from Kerala breathes his last

March 26, 2023
The South First

CATEGORIES

  • News
  • Opinion & Analysis
  • Entertainment & Culture
  • Featured
  • Health & Wellness
  • Andhra Pradesh
  • Karnataka
  • Kerala
  • Tamil Nadu
  • Telangana

PAGES

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

© 2023 The South First

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • States
    • Andhra Pradesh
    • Karnataka
    • Kerala
    • Tamil Nadu
    • Telangana
  • Politics
    • Behind the News
  • Entertainment & Culture
  • Opinion & Analysis
  • Health & Wellness
  • Dakshin Dialogues
  • Videos

© 2023 The South First

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our