Bengaluru: A hoax bomb threat over SMS created jitters for the passengers and crew of three airlines at the Kempegowda International Airport in the early hours of Friday. The message was sent over Whatsapp to a phone number that was available on the airport’s website meant for feedback and customer grievances, said a spokesperson from the Bengaluru International Airport Ltd.
The text message came in at 1.41 am, stating that bombs had been placed on three aircraft operated by Lufthansa Airlines (LH 755), Saudi Arabia Airlines (SV 5643) and Air France (AF 191). As soon as the airport authorities received the message, the three aircraft were screened thoroughly by the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee along with other security agencies.
After the check, the agencies concluded that the message was a hoax and cleared the aircraft for takeoff, the spokesperson said. The Lufthansa Airlines LH 755 that was scheduled to leave at 3 am got delayed by 3 hours and 20 minutes. Saudi Arabian Airline flight SV 5643 that was scheduled to leave at 2 am got delayed by 5 hours and 42 minutes.
Air France fight AF 191 was scheduled to leave at 1.51 am but got delayed by 20 hours.
One detained
The man, who sent the bomb hoax text message, has reportedly been picked up by the police from H.S.R Layout. The police suspect that it could be the work of right wing activists to inconvenience the passengers who were mostly Haj pilgrims.
