Coconuts in bag mistaken for bomb’, man tells mom on call — before being deboarded from flight, booked

Senior officers said Khan has been working as a labourer in Dubai for the past two-three years. Police said he was travelling to Dubai via a connecting flight through Mumbai.

On June 7, before a Delhi-Mumbai Vistara flight was scheduled to depart at 4.55 pm, Khan was talking to his mother over the phone. According to police, he was telling her that CISF personnel had confiscated the coconuts he was carrying in his bag, thinking that it was a bomb, but let his tobacco go.

“The complainant, a co-passenger, who heard this, informed airline staff, following which police and intelligence teams were rushed to the spot,” said an officer.

The officer said that Khan was deboarded from the aircraft and interrogated at length.

“Cabin crew informed CISF staff at the airport about the threat and the entire security apparatus of the premises was put on alert… teams of Delhi Police and CISF staff conducted anti-sabotage sweeps,” said the officer.

Said another officer, “The passenger’s bags were checked thoroughly and the call was declared ‘non-specific’ or a hoax around 6.45 pm.”

After a delay of two hours, the flight with 163 passengers on board — minus Khan — was allowed to depart for its destination. “We scanned his call detail records and it was revealed that he last spoke to his mother… nothing suspicious has been revealed otherwise and no previous criminal record has been found,” said police.

Khan was served a notice under Section 41A of the CrPC. Police also seized Khan’s passport and said he will not be allowed to leave the city without permission from the court.