A private airline's plane was diverted to the isolation bay at Kolkata airport on Tuesday afternoon for a thorough security screening due to a suspected bomb threat related to a passenger.
During a routine security check at the step ladder point in Kolkata, a 26-year-old passenger bound for Mumbai from Imphal with a stopover allegedly made a comment about carrying a bomb, prompting immediate action.
A private airline's plane was diverted to the isolation bay at Kolkata airport on Tuesday afternoon for a thorough security screening due to a suspected bomb threat related to a passenger.
As per the PTI reports, the passenger was detained after he told the airline's security officer that he had a bomb.
During a routine security check at the step ladder point in Kolkata, a 26-year-old passenger bound for Mumbai from Imphal with a stopover allegedly made a comment about carrying a bomb, prompting immediate action.
"The passenger's claim was declared specific, security was beefed up, and standard operating procedure (SOP) implemented,"officials told PTI.
"Out of the total of 186 passengers who were supposed to take the flight to Mumbai from Kolkata, 179 had already boarded," the official said.
"The flight was supposed to depart for Mumbai at 1.30 pm, but it was delayed as the aircraft was vacated and taken to the isolation bay for a thorough check," he said.
The passenger arrived at Kolkata airport on an IndiGo flight from Imphal and was scheduled to board a connecting IndiGo flight to Mumbai.
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In a statement, the airline said, "IndiGo flight 6E 5227 operating from Kolkata to Mumbai received a bomb threat prior to departure. In accordance with security protocols, the aircraft was moved to an isolation bay at Kolkata airport. All necessary checks were conducted, and the standard operating procedures were followed."
Security has been strengthened at all airports in the country following the India-Pakistan military conflict.
(With PTI Inputs)