Bomb Threat on Air India Flight AI-149 from Kochi to London

An Air India flight bound for London received a bomb threat early Tuesday, causing alarm at Cochin International Airport.

Details of the Threat

The threat was reported to the Air India call centre in Mumbai for flight AI-149, scheduled to fly from Cochin (COK) to London Gatwick (LGW). The alert was communicated to Air India in Cochin and Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) at 01:22 hours.

Security Measures

A Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) was convened at CIAL, and the threat was declared specific. A thorough security check was conducted by the Airport Security Group (ASG-CISF), airline security personnel, and inline baggage screening systems.

Investigation

Investigations revealed that the call was made by Suhaib, a 29-year-old from Kondotty Malappuram, who was scheduled to travel on AI-149. Suhaib, along with his wife and daughter, was intercepted at the international departure terminal during check-in and handed over to the police for further questioning.

Outcome

The aircraft was moved to an isolated parking point and thoroughly checked. It was subsequently cleared for flight. The check-in process for AI-149 was completed by 10:30 am, and the boarding procedure for 215 passengers was to start soon. The flight was expected to depart at 11:50 am.