Ammunition cartridge found on Air India flight at Delhi airport; probe underway
PTC Web Desk: In a major security lapse, an ammunition cartridge was discovered inside the pocket of a seat on Air India flight AI916 from Dubai to Delhi. The discovery was made after the aircraft landed safely at New Delhi Airport on October 27, according to an Air India spokesperson. All passengers disembarked without any issues.
“Following strict security protocols, a complaint was promptly filed with the Airport Police,” the spokesperson stated. The airline emphasised its adherence to established safety measures.
In a related incident earlier, a bomb threat hoax targeted an Air India flight scheduled to depart from Nepal’s Tribhuvan International Airport to New Delhi. This was the second false alarm at the airport within a week, news agency ANI reported. Authorities activated emergency protocols as a precautionary measure, but after thorough checks, no explosives were found on board. “We did not find any suspicious items or explosives on the aircraft. It is being prepared for departure as per procedures,” said Kiran Bajracharya, AIG at Valley Police Office, Ranipokhari.
Cartridges, which are prohibited on flights, contain a projectile, propellant, and primer enclosed in a metal case. The presence of such an item on an aircraft raises serious security concerns.
This occurrence coincides with a spate of false threats impacting over 400 flights, sparking enhanced security measures. Despite these threats being hoaxes, they have necessitated swift responses from aviation and digital authorities. Social media platforms, where many of these threats circulated, have come under scrutiny. The Ministry of Civil Aviation is now considering stricter repercussions for people making false threats, potentially including placement on no-fly lists. Additionally, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has instructed platforms like X and Meta to act swiftly in removing false and threatening content.
On October 31, the Maharashtra police arrested a 35-year-old man in Nagpur, identified as Shriram Uikey, for allegedly sending 30 bomb threat emails to various airlines, airports, and government officials. The emails, sent between October 25 and 30, are under investigation.
- With inputs from agencies
