Officials stated on Saturday that “a Delhi-bound Akasa flight carrying 185 people from Pune made an emergency landing at Mumbai Airport after a passenger claimed to have a bomb in his backpack”.
“The flight, which was redirected to Mumbai, landed in the early morning hours of the moment, 40 minutes after taking off from the Pune airport”, according to a statement issued by the airlines today.
After the bomb report was shown to be fake, the aeroplane finally took off for its original destination at about 6 a.m.
“At around 2.30 a.m. today, a CISF officer notified the Mumbai Police Control, and the luggage of a passenger on that flight was searched in the presence of a Bomb Detection and Disposable Squad (BDDS) team and police officers.” However, no suspicious objects were discovered throughout the inquiry, according to a police officer.
“After the jet landed at Mumbai airport, the passenger who claimed to have a bomb in his backpack was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance, complaining of chest pain. A relative accompanying the traveller on the aircraft told police that he had taken drugs for chest trouble”, Akasa Airlines backed up the event in a statement.
In response to a question from a passenger after the plane was diverted to Mumbai, an airline spokesperson commented on X, “The Akasa Air flight, flying from Pune to Delhi, received a security alert shortly after take-off.” The jet was diverted to Mumbai per security and protection protocols. At 12.42 a.m., the captain performed all necessary emergency measures and safely landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.”
The airline issued an official statement along the same lines.
According to Abhishekh Upadhyay, a passenger on the Pune-Delhi flight, the jet was diverted to Mumbai about 7-8 minutes after takeoff. “I was in the second row.” According to what I recall, a guy in the rear row summoned the cabin crew and claimed to have a bomb in his hand luggage. “The cabin crew immediately notified the pilot, who immediately diverted the plane to Mumbai,” he explained.
All passengers were deplaned and transported to Mumbai’s terminal building. The plane was moved to a new parking area. The bomb detection and disposal unit searched all luggage and portions of the aeroplane, leaving passengers delayed at Mumbai International Airport for five and a half hours.
Some passengers elected to stay the night in Mumbai before continuing on to Delhi later that day.
“Passengers were not given water or food for a long time.” When some of the fliers became enraged, they were handed water. “We boarded the plane again at 6.10 a.m. while landing in Delhi at approximately 7.45 a.m.,” Upadhyay said.
At 12.42 a.m., the plane successfully arrived in Mumbai. After the bomb detection and disposal unit deemed the “aircraft safe,” it took off for Delhi about five and a half hours later.
According to an airline source, the passenger, who was suspected of carrying a bomb in his backpack, was travelling with his parents. “His parents stated that their ward was mentally unstable,” added the airline source.
“The flyer, aged around 26 years, was arrested,” said Bhagwat Garande, a senior police official at the Mumbai Airport police station. He was later granted bail by the court.”
“Akasa Air flight QP 1148, which took off from Pune to Delhi at 00:07 hrs on the twentieth of October 2023, carrying 185 passengers along with six crew members, got a security alert shortly after takeoff.” The jet was diverted to Mumbai per safety and security protocols. “The captain followed all emergency procedures and safely landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 00:42 hrs,” Akasa Airlines stated.
The flight left Mumbai airport around 6 a.m. after gaining police authorization. The subject is being investigated further by the Mumbai Police.