Bomb scare holds up SpiceJet flight in Nepal

A Spicejet flight that was about to leave Kathmandu for New Delhi was grounded on Sunday after a passenger allegedly claimed that a bomb was planted on the aircraft.

Updated on: Sep 26, 2011, 24:26:39 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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A Spicejet flight that was about to leave Kathmandu for New Delhi was grounded on Sunday after a passenger allegedly claimed that a bomb was planted on the aircraft.

Flights, both incoming and outgoing, at the Tribhuwan International Airport were disrupted for over an hour due to the scare. The claim was later found to be hoax.

“Flights remained affected for close to two hours. But resumed following a thorough search of the Spicejet aircraft. The particular flight is still in Kathmandu,” said an employee of the rescue coordination centre at airport.

Spicejet’s flight SG 042 with 179 persons on board was about to take off at 10.45 am when an unidentified passenger created a commotion inside the aircraft that there was an explosive inside.

According to sources, a lady was talking about bomb, which was overheard by her fellow passengers, who informed the cabin crew. The crew alerted the pilot and as per standard procedure, the Boeing 737-800 was taken to an isolated bay.

All passengers were immediately evacuated and the aircraft searched thoroughly by a bomb squad and sniffer dogs. But nothing suspicious was detected inside the aircraft.

The flight was delayed by more than four hours, while airport operations were held up for an hour.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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