Passenger detained at Kolkata airport for texting terrorist is on plane
Story highlights
According to reports, Poddar, who was travelling on Kolkata-Mumbai Jet Airways flight, was reportedly speaking on the phone threatening to blow up the plane.
A Jet Airways passenger J Poddar was detained by the CISF at Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport for a threat to plane on Monday.
According to reports, Poddar, who was travelling on Kolkata-Mumbai Jet Airways flight, was reportedly speaking on the phone threatening to blow up the plane, news agency ANI reported.
It was later reported that a co-passenger spotted Poddar sending an image of a masked man on Snapchat and some text suggesting a terror threat to the plane. The alarmed passenger informed the crew cabin after which the take-off was halted and Poddar was detained.
Poddar has been handed over to police custody by the CISF, ANI reported.
Reportedly, Poddar's father claims that he was just joking with his friends. However, the authorities are still investigating the matter.
Podder is reported to be around 21 years old, a resident of Kolkata.
#Visuals from Kolkata: A passenger J Poddar travelling on Kolkata-Mumbai Jet Airways flight was apprehended at Kolkata airport by CISF today. He was reportedly speaking on the phone threatening to blow up the plane. #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/nBZ3v1J8yW
— ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2018
The incident comes a month after a hijack scare on a Kandahar-bound flight sent security officials at the Delhi airport into tizzy.
According to reports, the pilot "mistakenly" pressed the 'hijack button' when it was taxiing for take-off, news agency PTI reported.
The Ariana Afghan Airlines plane took off nearly two hours later after "satisfactory" security checks.
(With inputs from agencies)