Drunk passenger shouts ‘bomb’ at Delhi airport, booked

Although a woman airline staffer tried to calm the accused down, he allegedly misbehaved with her.

A businessman was pinned down by the armed commandos of Central Industrial Security Force after he uttered the word “bomb”, at a boarding gate, minutes before getting onto a flight to Mumbai on Thursday.

The incident caused a scare at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. (HT File)

The man was handed over to the Delhi Police, who found that he was in an inebriated condition.

According to CISF officers, the man was identified as Amar Chaudhary, a businessman who sells electronic goods. He had arrived at the Delhi airport to board an Air India flight to Mumbai. It was around 10.30 pm, when the CISF’s quick response team was called at the boarding gate number 12 at the terminal 1D.

“The man shouted the word ‘bomb’ and that he has a bomb in his hand baggage and that he will crash an aircraft. On this, a woman airline staff who was present there, tried to calm him down but he misbehaved with her and used abusive words,” said a senior CISF officer requesting anonymity.

The officer said that CISF commandos reached the boarding gate and pinned down the passenger. “He was thoroughly frisked but nothing suspicious was found. His bag was also checked. The man was detained and Delhi Police was alerted. The airline also offloaded him and he was handed over to the police,” the CISF officer said, adding that we can take no chance when it comes to the security of passengers and the airport.

During questioning, the Delhi Police found the man to be drunk. Deputy commissioner of police (IGIA), Sanjay Bhatia said, “We scanned his antecedents and found that he was a businessman. His past records were also checked. A medical examination confirmed that he was drunk. He was booked under Section 505b of the Indian Penal Code for creating nuisance and panic and was produced in a court 505b. Further action is being taken,” Bhatia said.

The Delhi airport is on high alert following inputs of possible terror attacks because of the approaching Independence Day. Additional quick response teams have been deployed and the anti-terror squad of Delhi Police is also on high alert.

This, however, is not the first time when a passenger was held by security staff for uttering anything suspicious.

In February this year, a woman was detained by security personnel at the Delhi airport when she said, “What are you checking? I have a bomb?” during her security check.

Earlier, in 2016, a Delhi-based exporter and his friend landed in trouble after he claimed he was carrying a ‘bomb’ in the same flight in which SPG-protected Priyanka Gandhi was also travelling. The man had told the security agencies that he shouted as he got irritated at the security personnel.