A Jet Airways passenger was detained and forced to de-board at the Kolkata airport on Monday after he reportedly spoke on the phone threatening to blow up the plane.
The man identified as Yogvedanta Poddar travelling on a Mumbai-bound Jet Airways flight was apprehended at Kolkata airport by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
Fellow passengers allegedly heard him talking about “bombs” on a video chat, an airport official said. Poddar, in his 20s, was forced to get off the plane, which was preparing for take-off, he added.
Co-passengers overheard his conversation and alerted a flight attendant. The crew immediately informed the pilot about a possible threat, the official said.
“The pilot then reported the matter to the ATC, following which the man was taken off the Jet Airways flight by the CISF, which is in charge of security at the airport,” he said.
The man has been handed over to the airport police for further questioning.
According to police sources, the man said during interrogation that he was going to Mumbai for a job interview.
The resident of Salt Lake, adjoining the city, was being interrogated at the NSCBI airport police station to ascertain his motives, officials said.
This comes on the day of the tenth anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks which left 166 people dead and hundreds injured after terrorists from Pakistan unleashed a wave of violence across India’s financial capital lasting three days.
(With PTI inputs)