Bengaluru: BJP National Yuva Morcha President and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya has been accused of opening the emergency exit door of an IndiGo aircraft before take-off.
As the issue got widespread attention, the airline issued a statement on Tuesday January 17, after a month it happened. While Surya was mentioned in the reports, IndiGo did not mention anyone in its statement.
The airline said, “a passenger travelling on Flight 6E 7339 from Chennai to Tiruchirapalli on Dec 10, 2022, accidentally opened the emergency exit during the boarding process. The passenger immediately apologised for the action. As per SOPs, the incident was logged and the aircraft underwent mandatory engineering checks, which led to a delay in the flight’s departure.”
Eyewitnesses alleged that the airline crew were briefing passengers on safety protocol when Tejasvi Surya, who was sitting near an emergency exit, opened it”
According to sources, Surya gave a written apology to the airline, and that was filled out and signed by the person after the incident.
Following the reports that it was Surya who opened the emergency door, Congress has criticised him for his actions. It questioned why the Government covered up Surya’s attempt to open the emergency exit door by breaching flight safety rules in a series of tweets.
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya violates air safety norms by unlocking the emergency exit while the aircraft was being readied for takeoff!
Why is the DGCA silent?
Why has no inquiry been initiated against him?https://t.co/oOjY8rlQlu— Indian Youth Congress (@IYC) January 17, 2023
“BJP MP Tejasvi Surya violates air safety norms by unlocking the emergency exit while the aircraft was being readied for takeoff! Why is the DGCA silent? Why has no inquiry been initiated against him?,” tweeted Indian Youth Congress.
Senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala wrote, “The BJP VIP Brats! How dare the airline complain? Is it the norm for the BJP power elite? Did it compromise passenger safety? Ohhh! U can’t ask questions about BJP’s entitled VIP’s!”
Even Twitter users have come forward to share their views on the platform.
Alt News Co-founder Mohammed Zubair stated, “Emergency exit door hai ya ‘Touch screen’. How can an emergency exit “accidentally” open just by “lightly resting his hand on the door”. What if this occurs while airborne? I think Tejasvi Surya should instead file an FIR against IndiGo for a low quality Emergency exit door.”
What happened on board flight 6E7339 on 10th December 2022 @IndiGo6E remains a Mystery. The emergency exit door was opened A powerful person was involved hence not reported to DGCA. An apology letter was written MP @Tejasvi_Surya was in Trichy & also on that flight, wrote Kunal Kamra.
Sharing a video, Congress leader Srivatsa said, “This is how Tejasvi Surya might have “accidentally” opened the emergency exit by “lightly resting his hand on the door”. Passengers & Indigo must thank Surya for not doing this midair!”
This is how Tejasvi Surya might have “accidentally” opened the emergency exit by “lightly resting his hand on the door”.
Passengers & Indigo must thank Surya for not doing this midair! pic.twitter.com/MiYizJSwon
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) January 18, 2023
Oshanie Fernandes Saldanha said, “Hopefully the kid is banned from flying for endangering the lives of his fellow passengers. Imagine, if someone else from a different religion did the same, he’d be called a terrorist and the media would’ve debated it for the next 7 days.”
MP Pratap Simha shared a news article about the facts behind the incident saying, “Soon after the unknowing mistake, MP @Tejasvi_Surya himself informed the air hostess n apologised to the passengers. Yet, why this unfair attack against a promising MP?.”
