AI flight checked for bomb after threat call; turns out hoax

An Air India aircraft in Goa after a threat call, which claimed that a bomb was planted in the flight, was thoroughly checked on Sunday but it later turned out to be hoax, officials said.

"Calangute police received a call about a bomb planted in the flight AI516 flying from Delhi to Goa," a senior Airports Authority of India (AAI) official told PTI.

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"After receiving the call upon the flight's take-off, police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), AAI officials and the bomb disposal squad were summoned," he said.

"The plane, which was carrying 89 passengers and 7 crew members, upon landing at Vasco at 2 PM, was moved towards the Indian Navy apron, and checked thoroughly for the presence of a bomb," he said.

However, the plane was cleared for further operations as the call turned out to be a hoax, he said.

Meanwhile, minutes after the incident, an unclaimed baggage found outside a terminal caused panic for a few minutes at the airport.

"The baggage, belonging to a Go Air passenger who had arrived from Mumbai, was found abandoned on a trolley," a senior AAI official said.

"Immediately, bomb disposal squad and dog squad were summoned and the baggage was checked. However, the owner turned up in the meantime and claimed it," he said.