By Prashant Jain
America News World
September 22, 2025
A routine Air India Express flight from Bengaluru to Varanasi turned chaotic on Monday when a passenger, mistaking the cockpit door for a lavatory, triggered a mid-air hijack scare. The incident aboard flight IX1086, which left Bengaluru at 8:00 a.m. and landed in Varanasi at 10:27 a.m., has raised urgent questions about aviation security in India’s booming air travel sector. While the airline insists safety protocols held firm, the episode—marked by a chilling attempt to access the cockpit—has left passengers rattled and authorities scrambling.
The drama unfolded mid-flight over Karnataka. Mani R., a Bengaluru resident traveling with eight companions, reportedly rose from his economy-class seat, disoriented and seeking a restroom. In a stunning lapse, he approached the fortified cockpit door and entered a passcode on its electronic panel. Sources conflict on whether the code was correct, partially unlocking the door, or wrong, but the captain’s swift override from inside prevented entry. Cabin crew restrained the man as panic spread among the 160 passengers, many en route to Varanasi’s sacred sites. “It felt like a hijack,” one traveler posted on X, sharing a blurry photo of the cockpit door’s flashing light. The post, amplified across social media, fueled hashtags like #AirIndiaExpressScare.
The captain, adhering to post-9/11 protocols mandated by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), locked down the flight deck and alerted air traffic control. No weapons were involved, and Mani R. showed no aggression, but the breach attempt evoked memories of past aviation crises, from 1970s hijackings to recent unruly passenger surges. Upon landing, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel detained Mani R. and his group for questioning at Varanasi’s Phulpur police station. “They’re cooperating, but the incident raised red flags,” said officer Praveen Kumar Singh. No charges are filed yet, but a no-fly ban looms.
Air India Express issued a statement: “A passenger approached the cockpit entry area while looking for the lavatory. Robust safety protocols were not compromised, and the matter is under investigation.” Skeptics, however, question how a passenger knew or guessed a passcode, prompting a CISF probe into possible security leaks. This isn’t the airline’s first scare: in June 2024, a Kozhikode-Bahrain flight diverted to Mumbai after a passenger tried opening an emergency exit and assaulted crew.
India’s aviation sector, handling 150 million passengers annually, has seen a 40% rise in disruptive incidents since 2023, per the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security. The U.S., where the Indian diaspora relies on Air India, faces similar concerns, with the FAA fining unruly passengers $1.2 million last year. “A code breach anywhere is a global risk,” tweeted analyst Tarun Shukla.
The DGCA now demands a review of Air India Express’s security logs and crew training. Varanasi and Bengaluru airports have boosted CISF patrols, while passenger rights groups seek compensation for traumatized travelers. A simple bathroom error exposed aviation’s thin safety margins, leaving India’s skies—and the world’s—on edge.
Prashant Jain is a senior correspondent at America News World. Contact: prashant@americanewsworld.com.