Passengers and cabin crew restrained the 36-year-old traveler aboard a Batik Air Boeing 737 before CISF officers detained him upon landing at Cochin International Airport.
KOCHI :A 36-year-old passenger was arrested by police in Kochi after causing panic mid-air by kicking open an emergency exit window panel and trying to force open the exit door on a Batik Air flight from Kuala Lumpur.
The incident occurred late Wednesday night aboard Batik Air flight OD231, a Boeing 737 service operating between Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Cochin International Airport in Nedumbassery.
Police identified the passenger as Jamsheer Athanikkal, a native of Kootannad in Palakkad district who currently resides in Sreemoolanagaram near Kochi.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) registered at the Nedumbassery police station, the disruptive behavior began between 9:30 PM and 11:05 PM while the Boeing 737 was cruising at high altitude. Investigators said Athanikkal, seated in seat 12A in the emergency exit row, suddenly became unruly and repeatedly ignored cabin crew instructions.
He forcefully kicked and shattered the inner window panel of the emergency exit before attempting to pull open the primary emergency exit handle. As cabin pressure and air rushed into the surrounding seating zone, nearby travelers and flight attendants intervened quickly, overpowering and physically restraining him until the aircraft reached its destination.
Despite the mid-flight disruption, the flight crew maintained control of the aircraft and landed safely at Cochin International Airport at approximately 2:40 AM on Thursday.
Upon arrival, personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) boarded the plane, took custody of Athanikkal, and formally transferred him to the Nedumbassery police.
“The passenger was booked following a formal complaint lodged by the security in-charge of Batik Air at Kochi,” a senior police officer confirmed. “He faces charges under Section 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for criminal intimidation, Section 11A of the Aircraft Act for failing to comply with safety directions, and Section 118(e) of the Kerala Police Act for committing acts that endanger public safety.”
Aviation authorities noted that aircraft emergency exit doors are kept sealed during flight by high differential pressure inside the cabin, preventing them from being manually thrown open while cruising at normal operating altitudes.
Following mandatory safety inspections and structural repairs to the damaged window assembly by ground engineers, the Batik Air Boeing 737 was cleared for commercial service and departed on its return leg to Kuala Lumpur.
Police and airport security agencies are questioning the suspect to determine what prompted his actions.
