Hoax bomb threat on cargo plane triggers overnight security operation at Chennai Airport
The chain of events began when authorities at Mumbai Airport received a suspicious email, warning that explosives were being smuggled aboard a cargo plane arriving from China
Cargo flight
CHENNAI: Tension prevailed in Chennai airport after officials received an email from China about a bomb aboard a cargo flight that arrived from Shanghai.
It began on Tuesday night, when authorities in Mumbai airport received an email that explosives were being smuggled on a cargo flight from China to Mumbai. Officials found that the email had originated from Shanghai.
Soon, security arrangements were made to check the aircraft upon arrival. But later, they found that the flight mentioned in the email was bound for Chennai airport.
So, the Chennai airport authorities were alerted. The director and security officers held an emergency meeting there. The CISF, Bomb squad unit, intelligence agency, and Q-branch police were made ready in the cargo terminal.
By the time the flight landed at the airport, the area was isolated. Officers began searching the aircraft which went on till the early hours of Wednesday.
However, nothing suspicious was found inside the aircraft, which confirmed that it was a regular hoax mail.
Despite the threat, flight services were not affected. All flights were operated as usual on time.
