Unaccompanied baggage belonging to an Indonesian passenger, who had failed to board the Dubai-Amritsar flight of budget passenger carrier SpiceJet, on Thursday morning caused a major security scare at Amritsar's international airport, an official said.
As baggage handlers at the Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport in Amritsar noticed the unaccompanied baggage, they raised an alarm following which security officials off-loaded the passengers and moved the aircraft to a remote area of the airport as part of standard operating procedures for such situations.
A bomb disposal squad entered the aircraft to carry out a search operation and flight operations at the airport were suspended.
It later turned out that the "unclaimed" baggage belonged to an Indonesian national, identified as Idinirinkarlina Btnanang, who failed to board the plane after clearing immigration and security check at Dubai, an airline official said.
"On July 21, 2016, a passenger Idinirinkarlina Btnanang (holding Indonesian passport) travelling on SG 056, Dubai to Amritsar did not board the aircraft after clearing immigration, security check and boarding," the budget passenger carrier said in a statement.
"She reported back after one of the flight departure."
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According to the low-cost carrier (LCC), Dubai Airport officials informed the pilot in command about the unaccompanied checked-in baggage on board.
"The pilot in command requested the Amritsar ATC officials for isolated parking stand. The baggage of Idinirinkarlina Btnanang has been identified and will be handed over to her, or relevant authorities," the statement said.
"The false alarm due to the miscommunication caused inconvenience to the passengers which is deeply regretted," the airline said.
Earlier, police sources said information regarding the bag was received through an anonymous call.
--IANS
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