Overview
- Flight IX-1086 left Bengaluru around 8 a.m. IST and landed safely in Varanasi around 10:27 a.m. after a man approached the cockpit door and operated its keypad mid-flight.
- The captain treated the act as a potential hijack risk, alerted air traffic control, and cabin crew intervened before the passenger returned to his seat.
- On arrival, CISF detained the man and eight travel companions and handed them to Phulpur police as intelligence and anti-terror units conducted questioning.
- Air India Express said robust safety protocols were not compromised, the incident was reported to authorities, and an internal investigation is underway.
- Accounts differ on whether the correct access code was entered, and the airline is proceeding under rules for level-three unruly behavior that could trigger a no-fly ban and legal action.