Bomb hoax creates panic at Anna International airport

Chennai, Jun 10 (UNI) High tension prevailed at the Anna International airport here early today, after an anonymous call was received about a bomb planted inside an incoming flight.

However, to the relief of airport authorities and passengers, the call turned out to be a hoax as a thorough search by strike force and bomb disposal squads yielded no explosives.

Airport sources said City Police Commissionarate's control room received a call at 2330 hrs last night, stating that a bomb, planted inside an Emirates flight coming from Dubai, would explode on landing here in the wee hours.

As an Emirates flight from Dubai, carrying 230 passengers, was scheduled to arrive at 0330 hrs, a red alert was sounded in the airport.

Strike force commandos, bomb disposal squads and medical teams took position on the runway as the flight landed half-an-hour behind schedule.

The security personnel immediately stormed the flight and conducted a thorough check but found no objectionable material.

As many as 151 passengers, who were scheduled to fly to Dubai in the same flight on its return at 0500 hrs, were also frisked and their baggages thoroughly searched. The flight finally left for its destination at 0510 hrs.

Security had been further tightened up at the airport in the wake of the incident.

A case was registered and police were on the look-out for the miscreant who made the hoax call.

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