A bomb scare on an Ahmedabad-Hyderabad flight triggered a security alert at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport after a 12-year-old student was overheard saying that there was a bomb onboard, but detailed checks found no explosive device.
The incident took place on Saturday as the aircraft approached Hyderabad. The girl, a Class VII student travelling back from a school trip to Gujarat, reportedly made the remark to one of her schoolmates about 10 minutes before landing. A cabin crew member heard the comment and informed the captain, following which ground authorities were alerted about a possible threat.
The aircraft landed at RGI Airport at around 7.45 am and was moved to an isolation bay. Passengers were asked to disembark while Central Industrial Security Force personnel and police carried out anti-sabotage checks of the aircraft and its luggage.
Police officials told The Times of India that the student was travelling with 45 other students and three teachers from a private school in Quthbullapur. The group had been returning to Hyderabad after visiting Gujarat.
B Kiran Kumar, inspector at the RGI Airport outpost, said officials did not find any suspicious objects during the checks. The aircraft and baggage were examined before passengers and students were permitted to leave with their luggage after security screening.
The response reflects the airport security protocol followed when a possible threat is reported onboard an aircraft, regardless of whether the statement is later found to be a prank. The aircraft was isolated after landing so that security teams could inspect it and the baggage in a controlled area before clearing passengers.
Officials said the girl was counselled through her teachers. Since she is a minor, police did not lodge a complaint and no case was registered, according to the inspector. The report did not indicate that any passenger or member of the crew was injured.
The incident temporarily brought airport security personnel, police and the airline’s ground authorities into the response process. The aircraft and luggage were cleared only after the checks were completed, after which passengers were allowed to leave the airport.
