India: A Canadian national was arrested for giving false information about a bomb being inside a Bengaluru-bound IndiGo flight that had taken off from Varanasi.
The incident occurred Saturday night when Nishant Yohanthan, a Canadian national, suddenly started shouting that there was a bomb inside his bag. The Bengaluru-bound IndiGo flight was on the runway at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi when panic spread.
The aircraft, along with the passengers’ luggage, was thoroughly checked after it made an emergency landing at Varanasi Airport. The entire operation caused a temporary disruption to the flight’s scheduled route and airport operations.
Upon thorough inspection, it was confirmed that no explosive device was found, and that it was a hoax. Nishant, who had made the claim was immediately handed over to the local police.
“Yesterday, on April 26, a passenger on an IndiGo flight which had just taken off from Varanasi, informed the crew that there was a bomb inside the flight. Following the threat, emergency protocols were promptly initiated,” Akash Patel, Deputy Commissioner of Police, said.
DCP Akash Patel said that Nishant was interrogated by multiple security agencies and it was revealed that he had made the fake claim in an apparent attempt to delay airport operations.
“We are taking the matter seriously, and the Canadian High Commission will also be informed about the developments,” the DCP added.
