Man jumps boundary wall of Mumbai Airport, disrupts takeoff
The man, who was nabbed by CISF following the incident, was of unsound mind and reportedly undergoing psychiatric treatment (screengrabs from video)
In a major security lapse at one of the country’s busiest airports, a 26-year-old man managed to scale the boundary wall of Mumbai Airport on Thursday and walk up to a SpiceJet plane that was readying for takeoff.
According to a senior official from the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the pilot averted tragedy by halting the plane on time.
“The pilots of the SpiceJet plane showed presence of mind and immediately shut down the engines to avert any accident when they saw the man walking up to the plane that was standing on runway 27,” the official said.
The incident took place around 1:30 pm when the Sion resident jumped the wall from the south-side of runway 27 (Terminal 1) and crossed the perimeter intrusion identification system.
He managed to approach SpiceJet plane SG634, en route Bengaluru, and walk all the way till its wheels before authorities nabbed him.
“The man, who seems to be of unsound mind, has been arrested by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF),” the official added.
The man, whose identity has not been revealed, was reportedly undergoing psychiatric treatment. When questioned, he told officials that he jumped the wall to see the plane.
Both DGCA and CISF have ordered an inquiry into the incident.
