A passenger's fake bomb threat on Wednesday caused a two-hour delay for a flight from Cochin International Airport to Thailand. The incident occurred during a security check for Thai Lion Air flight SL211. Following the incident, the passenger was handed over to the police.
According to a statement from Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL), the threat was made by a passenger during the Secondary Ladder Point Check (SLPC) at gate number 19. The Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) convened at 2:00 AM at Terminal 3 and determined the threat to be non-specific.
"However, due to the boarding of co-passengers under the same PNR, the committee directed that an SLPC and aircraft check be conducted after deplaning the passengers. The flight departed at 04.30 am. There was a delay of two hours," CIAL said, according to a report on PTI.
The passenger responsible for the bomb threat was handed over to the police for further proceedings.
In preparation for the Independence Day celebrations, an additional layer of security was implemented at the airport. During a security check, a passenger named Prashant P. S. (45) became agitated and shouted at the staff, reportedly claiming he had a "bomb in his bag", as per a report on The New Indian Express.
Prashant, a resident of Manacaud, Thiruvananthapuram, was traveling to Bangkok with his wife, son, and four companions. After his arrest, his family stayed at the airport, while the four other passengers boarded the flight after their luggage was thoroughly inspected.
The Nedumbassery Police filed a case against him under Section 118(b) of the KP Act, 2011 (for knowingly spreading false alarms) and Section 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (for criminal intimidation). Prashant was released on bail, acknowledging that his statement could disrupt the flight service and cause unnecessary alarm.
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