Kalam says he is waiting for Continental Airlines apology

Kochi, July 23 (ANI): Former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam has said he is yet to receive an apology from Continental Airlines for frisking him at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in April this year.

"I've not yet received it. Whatever I had to say, I've already said it," said Kalam.

The statement came a day after Continental Airlines had issued a public apology for subjecting Kalam to a security frisking at the airport prior to his boarding a US-bound flight of Continental Airlines on April 21.

Terming the incident as a case of misunderstanding, the airlines tendered an apology after the Government had filed an First Information Report (FIR) against it for breaching Indian aviation rules.

The case was registered after the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) approached the police against the staff of the American airliner for carrying out a pre-embarkation body check of Kalam, which it maintains, is in gross violation of a BCAS circular which exempts specified VVIPs/VIPs from security checks.

Earlier, Continental Airlines had clarified that it didn't insult Kalam by frisking rather it was done following American aviation policy to frisk everyone, including VIPs and VVIPs.

The incident created a furore inside Parliament. (ANI)