In a shocking incident, a woman narrowly avoided potential harm after unknowingly boarding a fake Ola cab at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Friday night. The driver, posing as an official Ola driver, allegedly attempted to extort money, leaving the woman to make a swift emergency call for help.
The incident unfolded around 10:30 pm when the woman exited the airport and headed to the Ola pickup area. Despite requesting a smaller vehicle, she was approached by a sedan driver who convinced her to take the ride. However, red flags soon emerged when the driver failed to request her OTP and instead used his own app for navigation, citing technical issues with his official app.
almost got trafficked/raped/looted/assaulted by a random cab driver who was let in by @BLRAirport in the Ola pickup station & impersonated to be one at terminal 1 of BLR airport at 10:30pm
had I not called 112, I’d not be here typing this pic.twitter.com/QpFdlRJFjF— Dr. N (@doctorniikii) November 9, 2024
As the ride progressed, the driver began demanding additional fare and suggested another driver could complete the trip for a higher amount. Alarmed by his actions, the woman asked to return to the airport, but he ignored her request and instead stopped at a petrol station, demanding ₹500 for fuel.
In a quick decision, the woman called 112, India’s emergency police helpline, while keeping a family member on the phone. Police arrived within 20 minutes, intervening before the situation could escalate further.
The woman shared her terrifying experience on social media, where it quickly gained traction, with her post gathering over 1.6 million views. Commenters expressed outrage and concern over the security measures at KIA, yet neither airport officials nor Ola Cabs have issued a statement regarding the incident.
The incident has sparked debate over passenger safety in transportation zones, with many users calling for stricter protocols to prevent unauthorized drivers from accessing airport pickup zones.
