Air India Passenger Arrested For ‘Alarming Comment’ During Security Check

Kochi: An Air India passenger was arrested at Cochin International Airport on Sunday for making an “alarming comment” while going through security check.

The 42-year-old Manoj Kumar was flying from Kochi to Mumbai on Air India flight AI-682. Questioned about his baggage by security personnel, Manoj shot back at a CISF officer at the X-ray Baggage Inspection System (XBIS) by asking if he thought there was a bomb in his bag.

That set alarm bells ringing.

As it is security checks have been heightened at all airports ahead of Independence Day. To top it, words like ‘bomb’ and ‘hijack’ are strictly not to be uttered at airports.

A thorough inspection of the passenger’s cabin and checked baggage was carried out by the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS). Though no threat was found, Manoj was handed over to local police for further investigation.

Thankfully, other passengers didn’t suffer as there was no delay in scheduled departure of the flight, the airport said.