Chennai: Officials at the Chennai international airport obstructed two Bangkok-bound passengers after they claimed to have explosive material in their baggage late on Monday night.
According to the police, the group of three men arrived from Goa at the time the airport was observing stepped up seven-tier security measures launched in view of the observance of Independence Day last week. Airline officials carry out checks of hand baggage of passengers boarding flights often for the same reason.
When personnel of the private airline posed some questions to the group of men headed to Bangkok about their baggage before they boarded the flight, they claimed to have had had explosive devices in it, following which security agencies were informed, officials said.
An air of panic filled the airport as soon as rumours of terrorists carrying bombs spread like wildfire. The Goa police have also been alerted to verify the identities of the group. The police are also investigating as to why the trio arrived at Chennai airport when the closest international airport with flights to Bangkok would be in Mumbai.
The Bangkok flight was delayed by half an hour due to the incident before it left for its onward destination.
