Panic at Mumbai airport

Two unclaimed bags at a terminal of the Chhatrapati Shivaji domestic airport sent the authorities into a tizzy on Sunday morning. It was later revealed that the two bags belonged to a first time air traveller who was booked on a Jet Airways flight to Hyderabad.
The passenger, who was waiting for his flight, felt the need to have a cup of coffee around 4.30 am. He left his Aristocrat briefcase and a cloth bag in the departure lounge and went to a coffee shop on the fist floor of the terminal.
Some alert passengers spotted the bags lying near an empty seat. They immediately informed the airline staff who alerted the Central Industrial Security (CISF) personnel on duty. The CISF cordoned of the area to examine the bags.
The airline made several announcements over the public address system asking the passenger concerned to identify the baggage. When no one came forward to claim the bags, passengers present at the terminal started panicking. In the meantime, the owner of the bags heard the commotion. He looked down from the first floor coffee shop and was surprised to see that security personnel had surrounded his bags and were opening them.
Infuriated, he rushed down and started shouting at the CISF staffers for tempering with his bags. When told that his bags had caused a major security alert and that it was an offence to leave behind unaccompanied bags, he feigned ignorance and continued with his tirade against the officers.
It was only after a few passengers present at the terminal intervened that the passenger calmed down and realised his mistake. When asked to shell out a fine of Rs 1,000, the passenger claimed that he only had Rs 50 on his person. He further pleaded that he was not aware of the rules as he was flying for the first time.
28/07/08 Baljeet Parmar/Daily News & Analysis

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Categories: Airports Jul 2008