An Air India flight was given clearance to depart from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) for Delhi after thorough security checks revealed no presence of any dangerous materials on board. The flight, carrying 168 passengers, had been grounded earlier in response to a bomb threat alert.
The aircraft, initially scheduled to depart for Delhi with all passengers already boarded and luggage loaded, received a bomb threat alert at 4:31 PM, shortly after completing boarding at 3:39 PM. Following standard protocol, all passengers were promptly disembarked, and their belongings were removed from the plane for inspection.
Security personnel from the Nepal Police and the Nepal Army, alongside TIA’s bomb disposal unit, conducted a comprehensive search using trained sniffer dogs. “All luggage was removed and checked thoroughly,” said SSP Dambar Bahadur Bika, head of airport security. “We left no stone unturned to ensure passenger safety.” Once the search concluded and no hazardous materials were found, the aircraft was handed back to the captain for its scheduled departure.
This incident marks the second bomb threat involving an Air India flight within the past week, following a similar scare last week, and another with a Vistara flight recently. None of these instances revealed any dangerous substances, but strict security protocols mandate that all threats are addressed immediately to safeguard passenger safety.
This continued series of threats has highlighted the importance of vigilance and prompt action within Nepal’s aviation sector, with authorities reinforcing measures to prevent any potential risks.
Source: Kantipur
