‘There are explosives under my seat’ he told the flight crew

Kolkata: Panic gripped the NSC Bose International airport today after a Mexican passenger abroad the Delhi-bound Indian Airlines flight from Bangkok threatened that he was carrying a bomb.
Febles Ortiz Eduwardo Antonio, allegedly inebriated, had started with lewd comments to an airhostess, to which a co-passenger had objected.
Antonio promptly beat him up, at which, the cabin crew got involved trying to pacify him. The pilot asked for a medical emergency for both passengers. It was then, that Antonio threatened to blow up the plane, triggering off a security alert.
The pilot declared full emergency and asked the Kolkata air control for permission for emergency landing.The aircraft IC 854-82 landed at 3.20 pm. Passengers were whisked out and a thorough check-up of the hand baggages ensued.There were 82 passengers on board, said airport officials.
The bomb disposal squad of the Central Investigation Department (CID) also rushed to the spot and checked the vacated aircraft.
But no explosive or weapon was found.
Antonio was arrested and handed over to the West Bengal police. He was taken to the airport police station and is scheduled to be produced to court tommorow.
The aircraft left the NSC Bose airport at 6.05 pm for Delhi, after security forces gave a green signal.
21/03/07 Kolkata Newsline

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Categories: Airports Mar 2007, Foreign Mar 2007, indian mar 2007, Safety Mar 2007