Suspicious remark lands Deoband flyer in trouble

In a seeming tragedy of errors, a 50-year-old madarsa teacher on a London-bound Emirates flight was offloaded, arrested and jailed on Wednesday for allegedly uttering some Hindi words which could be interpreted to mean he wanted to blow up the aircraft.

In a seeming tragedy of errors, a 50-year-old madarsa teacher on a London-bound Emirates flight was offloaded, arrested and jailed on Wednesday for allegedly uttering some Hindi words which could be interpreted to mean he wanted to blow up the aircraft.

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An NRI woman passenger alerted the crew that the passenger, Noor-ul-Huda, bearded and wearing traditional Islamic attire, had apparently said he would 'blow up' the plane.

Police say Huda reportedly said, "Jahaj udne wala hai aur hum udne wale hain, jahaj uda doonga," which can be translated both as "the plane will take off... I will fly the plane", as well as "the plane will blow up... I will blow up the plane."

Huda claimed he was talking to his wife but this is being investigated. Police have seized his mobile phone.

A resident of Saharanpur in UP, he is associated with the renowned Islamic seminary in Deoband nearby and was on his way to London to deliver some lectures.