YouTuber Makes ’24 Hr Vlog’ Inside Bengaluru International Airport, Arrested For Unauthorised Access
In the controversial video, shot on the airport's runway, Gowda bragged about entering the airport without a ticket, loitering near the runway for a day, and even filming while blindfolded to evade detection by airport officials.
A 23-year-old YouTuber from Yelahanka in Bengaluru, has found himself in hot water after allegedly trespassing into Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) and causing a public disturbance. The arrest of YouTuber Vikas Gowda, came after a complaint was filed by KIA security personnel, accusing him of falsely claiming to have spent more than 24 hours inside the airport premises by circumventing security protocols.
Reports suggest that on April 7, Gowda entered KIA around noon with a valid ticket for Air India’s Bengaluru-Chennai flight (AI-585). However, instead of boarding the flight, he roamed the airport, reportedly filming videos on his phone. Five days later, on April 12, Gowda posted a video on his YouTube channel (@VikasGowda1), where he boasted about his alleged 24-hour stay at the airport and criticized its security measures. With a substantial following of around 113,000 subscribers, Gowda claimed in the video that he went unnoticed and unquestioned by security personnel during his time at the airport.
“He entered the airport and cleared the security check at Terminal-2 of the Kempegowda International Airport and headed towards the boarding lounge. But instead of boarding the plane, he was roaming around in the airport premises and spent nearly six hours at the airport,” a senior police officer told PTI.
In the controversial video, shot on the airport’s runway, Gowda bragged about entering the airport without a ticket, loitering near the runway for a day, and even filming while blindfolded to evade detection by airport officials.
The matter came to the notice of the airport security personnel on April 15 and, based on the complaint of a Central Industrial Security Force official, a case was registered against Gowda under Sections 505 (Statements conducing to public mischief) and 448 (house trespass) of the Indian Penal Code, and he was arrested. Gowda was later released on bail, police said.
The video has sparked concerns about the efficacy of KIA’s security arrangements and raised questions about how an individual could allegedly breach security measures at a major international airport. The incident has brought attention to the importance of stringent security protocols and the need for airports to remain vigilant against potential threats.