New Delhi: A bomb alert call, which was later declared a hoax, delayed an IndiGo flight bound to Patna on Tuesday morning at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Police said the call was made by a passenger who wished to delay the flight as he was late in reaching the airport. The flight, which was scheduled to take off at 12.30 pm, was delayed for over three hours. The passenger is absconding.
According to police, the caller has been identified as the spouse of an Army officer in Danapur, near Patna.
Police said Pramod called the Delhi Police Control Room at 12.05 pm from his cellphone, informing them that there was a bomb on board the Patna-bound IndiGo aircraft, 6E 148.
Police said Pramod had booked the ticket on the Internet and had also provided his mobile number at the time of booking. He booked his flight in the concessional quota as his wife works for the Army near Patna.
Sources said Pramod had gone to Sonepat two days ago reportedly to look for a job.
"He didn't get the job and was to reach Delhi this morning to catch the flight to Patna. However, he was held up, and, therefore, decided to make the call to delay the flight," an airport official said.
27/02/13 Shalini Narayan/Indian Express
