Bengaluru Police arrested 29-year-old Venkat Mohit Pathipati for trying to open a plane's emergency door mid-flight.
A complaint was filed by an Air France staff member, leading to Mohit's arrest under Aircraft Rules-1937 and IPC 336.
Mohit claimed he was merely examining the door's functions, causing distress among other passengers.
BENGALURU — Venkat Mohit Pathipati, a 29-year-old data engineer originally from Rajamundri in Andhra Pradesh, India, has been arrested by Bengaluru Police. Pathipati, who currently works for a prominent American grocery firm, was detained on charges of attempting to open the emergency door of a flight en route from Paris to Bengaluru on the night of July 15-16.
Pathipati was visiting Bengaluru to see his aunt who resides in the eastern part of the city, Nagavara, Times of India reports. His actions, as recounted by sources, created a significant stir among the fellow passengers onboard.
An Air France crew member subsequently lodged a complaint regarding the incident with the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) police. This led to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Pathipati under the provisions of Aircraft Rules-1937 and IPC 336, which concerns acts that could jeopardize the life or safety of others.
Upon his detention and subsequent questioning, Pathipati revealed his educational and professional background, highlighting that he had attained a master's degree in Business Analytics and Information System from an international university before securing employment in the US.
When queried about the motives behind his alarming actions, Pathipati informed the police that he was merely "checking the arming and disarming functions of the door."
After the plane safely landed at KIA, the air crew swiftly relayed the incident to the airport authorities, recommending Pathipati's detention. Following the official complaint and the FIR's registration, the police took him into custody, though he was eventually released on bail from the police station.
