Serious security lapse at Kochi airport: Passenger vanishes after obtaining boarding pass

Nedumbassery: The ‘disappearance’ of a Mumbai-bound passenger, Solanki, after obtaining boarding pass from Cochin International Airport spread panic among the security personnel and airport authorities on Sunday evening.
Solanki had obtained boarding pass to fly by Go Air flight on Sunday evening. He was waiting in the security area after completing all formalities when he reportedly got some telephonic message.
He asked the security personnel to allow him to leave the airport for some urgent personal need. But they turned down his plea as he had completed all formalities to board the flight.
According to aviation security norms, allowing a passenger to leave the airport after completing the formalities of the journey including checking and clearing of luggage, is a serious security violation.
In such cases the traveller will be allowed to leave the airport only if the security personnel were clearly convinced of the reason for leaving. The boarding pass and luggage clearance should be cancelled before allowing the passenger to leave the airport. The flight had to be detained as the ground handling staff and security personnel could not locate Solanki. However, the flight was allowed to take off from Kochi airport after 30 minutes after a thorough check of the luggage.
The airport authorities preferred to remain silent on the incident. But Go Air authorities reportedly lodged a complaint with the CIAL. The ‘escape’ of the passenger without the knowledge of the security personnel points to serious security lapse inside the airport.
04/12/07 Newindpress

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Categories: Airports Dec 2007, GoAir Dec 2007, Safety Dec 2007