Mexican passenger remanded in judicial custody till Apr 5

Barrackpore, Mar 22 (UNI) The Mexican passenger, who in an inebriated state threatened to blow up the Delhi-bound aircraft yesterday and later arrested, was today remanded in judicial custody by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate for 14 days.

The passenger, Febles Ortiz Eduardo Antonio (47), was arrested for unlawful activities against Safety of Civil Aviation act in addition to Sections 323, 506 and 507.

He was carrying a passport issued by Union of Mexicanos.

The Magistrate called for a case diary to be produced before him on March 28. However, there was no defence lawyer. Assistant Public Prosecutor Himangshu Bhattacharyya prayed for police custody.

He in an intoxicated state, yesterday, threatened to blow up the Delhi-bound aircraft IC 854, forcing the commander to make an emergency landing at the NSCBI airport.

According to an Indian spokesperson, the foreigner punched a fellow passenger and also misbehaved with others, including the cabin crew. When the cabin crew tried to overpower him, he claimed there was a bomb under his seat and would explode.

The commander of the aircraft, carrying 82 passengers, took off from Swarnabhoomi airport in Bangkok to Delhi, sensing a '' threat perception'' asked the Air Traffic Control for permission to make an emergency landing.

The foreigner was searched but nothing incriminating was found from him, an airport official stated.

He was later arrested.

UNI