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Drunk passenger triggers bomb scare at airport

NEW DELHI: A drunk passenger travelling on board a Delhi-bound Austrian airlines flight from Vienna created a scare at the airport here when he claimed that he was carrying explosives and would blow up the plane.

The high-voltage mid-air drama began shortly after 10:30 p.m. on Friday night when the Boeing 767 aircraft carrying 300 passengers and crew was approaching Delhi, sources at the airport said on Saturday. Mirasi Muslim Bilal, an Indian who boarded the flight from Vienna, suddenly started shouting that he was carrying several bombs with him and would blow up the plane after which the captain of the aircraft sent a distress signal.

Sources said Mr. Bilal had consumed alcohol in excess during the journey and was demanding more, but the crew refused to serve him saying the aircraft was about to land. On being refused drinks, Mr. Bilal threatened that he would blow up the flight, they added.

Airport officials said they received an emergency call at 10:45 p.m., minutes before the plane was to land.

The aircraft landed at 10:56 pm under full emergency conditions and bomb disposal squads of the CISF and Delhi Police rushed to the plane and carried out an extensive search after which the claim was declared a hoax.- PTI

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