A threat written out on the toilet-paper roll in the bathroom of a plane, while it was midair, sent the authorities and security personnel of the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport into a tizzy here on Sunday and left passengers fuming as the prank resulted in a two-and-a-half hour wait for some and the cancellation of the onward flight for others.
A Spicejet flight (SG 308) between Chennai and Kolkata was on schedule when the pilot found a note written out on the toilet paper in the bathroom that said that a bomb will explode on the plane, R. Srinivasan, Director of the airport told The Hindu.
“He immediately alerted the Air Traffic Control of need for a security check. As soon as the flight landed at 12:55 p.m. it was taken away to the isolation bay of the Airport and searched for any explosives,” Mr. Srinivasan said.
Passengers were also detained at the airport till 3:15 p. m after which they were allowed to leave. They were even asked to identify every item of their baggage as a part of the security drill, he said.
After a search of about four-and-a-half hours, the plane was given a security clearance as the threat turned out to be a hoax.
“But the aircraft could not continue on its onward journey towards Bagdogra as it was 4:30 p.m. by the time the flight got its security clearance. Since there are no night-landing facilities at Bagdogra Airport, the flight had to be cancelled and the plane returned to Bangalore,” Mr. Srinivasan said.
