Karnataka Police Take Action Against Passenger for Emergency Door Incident

In a troubling incident, Karnataka Police have filed an FIR against Utkarsh Gowtham for attempting to open an aircraft's emergency door during a flight. Initially treated as an accidental act, his subsequent derogatory social media posts about the police led to further action. The police are now searching for him as he has deleted his posts and gone into hiding. This incident follows another alarming event where a passenger attempted to open an emergency exit just before landing, claiming to be 'possessed by a ghost.' The situation has raised serious concerns about passenger safety and airline protocols.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 31, 2026, 15:19 IST

Incident Overview

On March 31, Bengaluru: Authorities in Karnataka have initiated a First Information Report (FIR) against a man who was previously released after being detained for attempting to open the emergency exit of an aircraft. Following this, he allegedly made derogatory remarks about the Bengaluru Police on social media, as reported by officials on Tuesday.

The FIR was lodged by the Kempegowda Airport police regarding this matter.

The individual, named Utkarsh Gowtham from Maharashtra, has since removed all his social media content and is currently untraceable. Police reports indicate that Utkarsh attempted to open the emergency door during a flight. Initially, the police filed a non-cognizable report (NCR) and released him, believing the act to be accidental.

Details of the Flight Incident

The incident took place on March 22 while Utkarsh was aboard an IndiGo flight. After his attempt to open the emergency door, airline personnel handed him over to the Kempegowda Airport police. Following an interrogation, he was released, as the police deemed the act non-cognizable.

However, after his release, Utkarsh allegedly posted offensive comments on social media, criticizing the Bengaluru Police and demanding action from the Mumbai Police. He also claimed he had been held in a cell for four hours. His posts gained significant attention, prompting the Bengaluru Police to file an FIR against him.

In light of these developments, Utkarsh deleted his posts and has since gone into hiding, according to police sources. Officials noted that while his actions caused alarm among passengers, they initially considered it unintentional and issued a warning.

Ongoing Search and Investigation

The police have commenced a search for Utkarsh, and further investigations are ongoing.

In a related incident, panic ensued on an IndiGo flight from Bengaluru to Varanasi on March 30 when a passenger attempted to open the emergency exit door just before landing. The cabin crew acted swiftly, and the cockpit responded promptly.

During questioning, the individual, identified as Mohammad Adnan, claimed he was 'possessed by a ghost,' a statement that surprised officials as they continued their investigation.

This incident occurred on flight 6E-185 as it was about to land at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi. Reports indicate that Adnan approached the emergency exit and attempted to open it by pressing the button twice, shocking fellow passengers.

Crew members quickly intervened and restrained him while the aircraft was still landing. The pilot, exercising caution, reportedly pulled the aircraft back into the air before safely landing shortly thereafter.

Upon landing, the accused was handed over to airline security and CISF personnel as per standard protocol.