Mumbai Airport Incident: Passenger Detained for Bomb Joke
Passenger Detained Over Bomb Joke at Mumbai Airport
Representational Image
Mumbai, Aug 13: A 55-year-old individual was apprehended at Mumbai airport after he jokingly suggested that there was a "bomb" in his luggage while preparing to board a flight to Delhi. Authorities later released him with a warning, as reported on Thursday.
The incident unfolded on Sunday, leading to a temporary halt of the IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Delhi just prior to its scheduled departure from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
As per officials, the passenger made the alarming statement during a security check at Terminal 2, which prompted immediate action from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel present at the scene.
Following his detention, the individual was transferred to the Sahar police station. During questioning, he claimed his comment was made in jest, but the police are currently investigating the matter.
According to an official statement, airline Assistant Security Manager Omprakash Rajbhar and Security Officer Ravindra Rokde were performing routine checks when the passenger, identified as Anuj Jayram Suvarna, casually mentioned a "bomb" in his bag in response to inquiries about prohibited items.
Upon hearing the term "bomb," airline staff promptly notified their superiors and the CISF, who acted without hesitation. The passenger was subsequently removed from the flight and taken into custody.
The CISF then handed Suvarna over to the Sahar police for further legal proceedings, following a complaint from the security officers. Although a case was registered and he was arrested, he was later released after receiving a warning.
Officials noted that the passenger's prank caused considerable alarm among other travelers, disrupted flight schedules for several hours, and inflicted both financial and emotional distress on the airline.
In line with security protocols, the entire aircraft was evacuated, and all passengers were deplaned. The CISF, along with the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), conducted a thorough inspection of the aircraft, cargo, and passengers' belongings.
After several hours of exhaustive searching, and finding no suspicious items, the flight was cleared to depart for Delhi once all security measures were completed.