Chaos unfolded at Chennai International Airport on Tuesday evening when a 19-year-old engineering student inadvertently triggered the emergency exit alarm on a Kolkata-bound IndiGo flight moments before takeoff. The aircraft, which had 164 passengers onboard, was grounded just as it was preparing for departure around 6 PM.
The unexpected blare in the cockpit was traced to the emergency door near a passenger seat. The culprit was identified as Omkar Shaha, a second-year engineering student from West Bengal, currently studying at a private institution along Chennai’s OMR. Shaha, en route to his hometown for vacation, insisted that the button was pressed by mistake: “My hand brushed against it accidentally,” he told authorities.
Despite his claims, airline staff and security officials took the matter seriously. Both Shaha and his baggage were promptly deboarded as part of standard safety procedures. The aircraft eventually took off at 6:50 PM — 50 minutes behind schedule — with the remaining 163 passengers.
Shaha was handed over to Chennai Airport Police for further questioning. On Wednesday, during a follow-up investigation, he reiterated that there was no malicious intent. Authorities, satisfied with his explanation, issued a strict warning. He was released after submitting a written apology, acknowledging the grave safety risks such incidents can pose and promising not to repeat the error.
The episode serves as a sharp reminder of how even small missteps in aviation can result in serious consequences.