In a major security breach, Air India on Saturday reported the discovery of an ammunition cartridge in the pocket of a seat on a flight from Dubai to Delhi on October 27. The cartridge was found on flight AI916 after it had landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in the national capital, with all passengers safely leaving the plane. Following this, an FIR was registered under the Arms Act and a probe has been initiated.
“One ammunition cartridge was found in the pocket of a seat of our flight AI916 after it had landed from Dubai at Delhi on October 27, and all passengers had safely disembarked,” an Air India spokesperson confirmed. The airline emphasised that passenger and crew safety is its top priority and assured the public that it is working closely with airport security and law enforcement to ensure all protocols are observed and the matter is thoroughly investigated.
The police shared news on Saturday, an Air India staff found the live round of ammunition during routine cleaning on a flight on October 27.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Indira Gandhi International Airport) Usha Rangnani said, “On October 27, Indira Gandhi International Airport Police registered an FIR under the Arms Act after Air India staff found a live round of ammunition during routine cleaning on a flight. “She added that the case is under investigation and further details will be shared as the investigation progresses.
However, this incident raises questions about potential lapses in security measures either at the Dubai departure airport or during the screening process, and investigators are expected to examine surveillance footage and passenger records as part of their probe.
This comes after over 500 threat messages received by Indian carriers, many of which turned out to be hoaxes. Several air operators have reported such threats on their social media platforms, resulting in flight delays as thorough searches were conducted. To date, most of these threats have proven to be false alarms. Besides huge financial losses to airlines, these threats were spread across social media platforms, creating panic among the passengers.
According to a police officer, an Air India staff found the live round of ammunition during routine cleaning on a flight on October 27. “A complaint was immediately lodged with the Airport Police by Air India, strictly adhering to the laid down security protocols” the airlines added on action taken. A cartridge, commonly known as a round or shell, is a type of pre-assembled ammunition packaging a projectile (bullet), propellant, and primer within a casing, typically made of metal. Cartridges are designed to be fired from firearms, and their presence on an aircraft is strictly prohibited due to security concerns.
Earlier, an Air India flight AI 216 which was set to return to New Delhi on Monday received a bomb threat. It is the second hoax call that Nepal’s Tribhuvan International Airport has received within a week, officials confirmed. The Air India flight which landed at 2.41 pm (Nepal Standard Time) on Monday afternoon at Tribhuvan International Airport had received a bomb threat prompting authorities to activate the emergency protocol.
