What began as an attempt to walk his wife and child to the gate at Bengaluru Airport has landed a 44-year-old man in serious legal trouble. The incident has now sparked questions over both passenger conduct and airport security protocols due to his ticket being already cancelled 2 days back. Authorities have since launched an inquiry to identify and fix the loopholes that allowed the breach.
Trespassing Incident At Bengaluru Airport Due To Cancelled Ticket
According to The Times of India, Althaf Hussain, a sales executive working in Bahrain, showed up at Terminal 2 late on September 4 with a Gulf Air ticket that had been cancelled two days earlier. The ticket was originally booked for him, his wife, who works as a domestic helper and their child. Hussain had decided to extend his stay in India, scrapping the plan to fly, but still turned up at the airport with his family.
Security cameras and scanners didn’t stop him. In fact, Hussain managed to walk through multiple layers of checks with the invalid document and made it all the way to departure gate number 3. His explanation, later given to officials, was that he wanted to accompany his wife and child up to the boarding point before heading back.
That plan collapsed when officers of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) flagged him for questioning. The closer they looked, the clearer it became that his ticket was worthless. Instead of quietly accepting the mistake, Hussain allegedly turned combative. According to officials, he and his relatives raised their voices, threatened to file complaints with human rights bodies, and argued about being stopped at night.
Also Read: 5 Reasons Why Bengaluru Airport Is India’s 1st To Receive Global Recognition For Accessibility
The CISF handed him over to the airport police, who registered a case. Althaf Hussain was booked under Section 329 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which covers criminal trespass and house trespass. He was arrested and later released on bail.
Airport insiders admit the incident has raised uncomfortable questions, like how a cancelled ticket passes through several checks without being flagged? A senior officer confirmed that a review of procedures is underway, stressing that even seemingly harmless breaches can have major security implications.
Hussain, meanwhile, insisted his intentions were benign. But officials point out that intent is beside the point and access to restricted areas without valid authorisation is illegal. One officer iterated that airports are not places where you bend rules to see off family; they are sensitive security zones, as stated by The Times of India.
The case has set off an investigation into both Hussain’s conduct and the loopholes he exploited. For now, what seemed to him a simple act of escorting his family has ended in a criminal case that could shadow his next trip abroad.
Cover Image Courtesy: xavierarnau/CanvaPro (Representational Image)
For more such snackable content, interesting discoveries and the latest updates on food, travel and experiences in your city, download the Curly Tales App. Download HERE. First Published: September 08, 2025 5:34 PM