CHENNAI: A dramatic incident unfolded on a private airlines flight from Kochi to Chennai Saturday night after two passengers including a foreign national got into a physical altercation after one claimed to have planted explosive in the flight.
The plane, which took off from Kochi with 171 passengers, was diverted to a remote bay at Chennai Airport, where it was searched by security personnel and bomb detection squad.
According to sources, the altercation began when two passengers, a 35 year old man from Kerala - who claimed to have planted the bomb - and another passenger, a foreign national got into a heated argument.
The situation escalated and the other passengers informed the cabin crew and the pilot immediately alerted air traffic control, and the plane was diverted to a remote bay at Chennai Airport early Sunday monring.
Security personnel, including CISF commandos and bomb disposal experts, were deployed to the scene. A thorough search of the plane and its passengers was conducted for over two hours after which the passenger's claims were declared a hoax.
The two passengers involved in the altercation were later taken to airport police for further questioning.