Hoax call at IGI delays Ranchi-bound flight

A GoAir flight from Delhi to Ranchi was called back from the runway at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Wednesday, after a hoax call that some passengers were carrying arms on board.

According to the sources, at around 6.15 am a message was received at Unit Room operation control room of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at Terminal 1D from Airport Operation Control Centre (AOCC) that two passengers were traveling to Ranchi with arms in GoAir flight G8-145 at 6.10 am.

The flight was ready for takeoff from bay number 122 with 125 passengers and 8 crew member on board. All passengers and crew staff were offloaded by the airlines soon after they received the threat call. 

At around 6.50 am the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) assembled at Terminal 1D. The flight was cordoned off by Quick Reaction Teams (QRT) and CISF’s Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads (BDDS) team.

Sources said that during the BTAC’s deliberation, it was revealed that around 6.08 am an unknown person called the GoAir help desk and said that he saw two passengers boarding the Ranchi-bound flight with weapons. Soon after getting this information the airline immediately informed the concerned agencies and QRT.

“Later at about 7.25 am, the BTAC declared the call as ‘non-specific’. 

At about 7.38 am, all the passengers were taken for re-checking through transfer X-ray Baggage Inspection System (X-BIS) and fresh boarding passes were issued. After the anti-sabotage check as well as secondary ladder point check was carried out by the Go-Airlines security staff at 10.08 am the flight took off to its destination,” sources added.