Passengers stranded at KIA for 14 hours after man raises false alarm

Bengaluru: As many as 150 Singapore-bound passengers endured 14 hours of agonising wait at the Kempegowda International Airport after a passenger raised the threat of firearms that proved to be a hoax.

On Tuesday Scoot Airlines flight RR573 scheduled to depart for Singapore from KIA airport at 1.20 am taxied late to the runway and was about to take off at 1.48 am, when a passenger raised an alarm claiming that he noticed a gun in the luggage. The takeoff was cancelled and a thorough search of the baggage was held only for the KIA to find that it was a hoax call.

The in a statement in a statement said “A hoax security threat was made at 01.48 hrs on April 23, relating to Scoot Airlines Flight TR573 (BLR – SIN). Standard security protocols and procedures were followed and no suspicious items found. A passenger was de-boarded from the flight by the CISF. The remaining passengers and baggage were also de-boarded and rescreened for security and immigration clearance.”

Following the incident, some of the passengers took to social media to complain about the airline’s alleged apathy. While a few others complained that the carrier was not providing timely information about alternative arrangements.

However, the Bangalore International Airport Ltd informed that a replacement aircraft and crew had been flown into Bangalore. The flight finally departed KIA at 4.20 PM, food and refreshments were organised for the stranded passengers.