Bomb scare at Ahmedabad airport

The Ahmedabad international airport today witnessed high drama after an anonymous caller informed that a bomb was planted on an Air India flight from London with 282 people on board.

The crisis management team swung into operation with commandos surrounding the aircraft as soon as it landed at 11.30 am. All the passengers were immediately evacuated and a search was launched by the bomb detection squad and other agencies to find out if any explosive device was present, officials said.

"We are conducting an emergency meeting to handle the situation," S Awasti, director of Ahmedabad airport, said.

The call was received at the Air India office where an unidentified caller informed that a powerful bomb has been placed in the international flight from London, officials said.

As soon as the plane landed, a team of commandos and other officials surrounded the plane, asked the passengers to alight quickly and started inspection of the aircraft, sources said.

While it is not clear whether the bomb threat was real or the handiwork of prankster, the officials are not taking any chances.