In a major security breach, one ammunition cartridge was found in the pocket of a seat on an Air India flight AI916 from Dubai to Delhi after it landed at the airport, an Air India spokesperson said on Saturday.
The flight arrived at New Delhi Airport on October 27, and all passengers disembarked safely.
"A complaint was immediately lodged with the Airport Police by Air India strictly adhering to the laid down security protocols," the spokesperson added.
Earlier on Monday, an Air India flight scheduled to return to New Delhi was the target of a hoax bomb threat. This was the second such threat received by Nepal's Tribhuvan International Airport within a week, news agency ANI reported while citing officials. In response, airport authorities activated their emergency protocol to ensure the safety of passengers and crew members.
"We didn't find any suspicious or explosives on board the plane. It is preparing to take flight following the procedures," Kiran Bajracharya, AIG at Valley Police Office, Ranipokhari told ANI.
A cartridge is a type of ammunition that contains a projectile, propellant, and primer within a metal casing. The presence of such items on an aircraft is strictly prohibited.
This incident comes amid a wave of threats targeting more than 400 flights. Although these threats turned out to be false alarms, they have led to heightened security measures. Threats that circulated on social media, prompted quick responses from both aviation and digital authorities.
In light of these developments, the Ministry of Civil Aviation is considering stronger actions against false threats, including the possibility of placing individuals responsible on no-fly lists. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has directed major social media companies, including X and Meta, to take prompt action in removing misinformation and threats from their platforms.
Earlier on October 31, a 35-year-old man was arrested by Maharashtra police from Nagpur for allegedly sending 30 bomb threat emails to several airlines and airports across the country as well as some ministers.
The accused, identified as Shriram Uikey, sent the bomb threats between October 25 and 30.
