Chennai sources stated that IndiGo airlines offloaded a passenger after he protested the tightened security and mentioned the word "bomb" to airline staff, amid tensions between India and Pakistan and a high security alert for all airports and airlines in the country. The passenger identified as Alex Mathew resident of Pathanamthitta, Kerala reportedly told the airline staff at Chennai Airport on Tuesday saying "Am I carrying a bomb in my bag?”.
Meanwhile IndiGo Airlines confirmed the incident occurred at Chennai Airport about 1930 hours during Secondary Ladder Point Security or SLPC of the Indigo flight from Cochin to Bhubaneswar. Furthermore the SLPC check involves a final round of checking of passengers and their belongings once the mandatory checks of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is completed.
Moreover immediately after the incident, a Quick Response Team, Dog Squad and Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad reached the spot and carried out inspection of the passenger's luggage. Apparently the call was declared as ''Non-Specific'' after nothing suspicious was found. Reportedly the passenger was offloaded and following security protocol handed over to the local police for further action.
