NEW DELHI: Matching handwriting on a threat note found in the lav of a diverted Air India Express international flight with that of all 40 people on board has reportedly brought a crew member under the scanner of investigating agencies.A passenger’s role is also being probed. This Monday’s Dammam-Delhi flight (IX 170) was diverted to Ahmedabad after a tissue paper with the words “bomb red 430” written on it and a box, both in black ink, drawn on it was found in the lav.On landing in Ahmedabad, AI Express filed a complaint with the airport police, seeking a probe into who might have written the threat note. So apart from the normal protocol of checking passengers, aircraft and baggage, handwriting tests on all the 32 passengers, four cabin crew members and four pilots (airlines send extra crew to areas impacted by the US-Iran war to handle last-minute diversions).“The agencies had asked the airline to give the same tissue paper for getting handwriting samples. Six tissues were sought for each passenger,” said sources. AI Express arranged an alternate aircraft with new set of crew members that flew all the 32 passengers to Delhi on Monday-Tuesday midnight.
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The crew members were asked to stay back for the probe. It is learnt that of them, seven were told Thursday they were free to leave the city. “The role of a crew member is being examined apart from a passenger also being under the scanner,” said sources. To be sure, no one has been conclusively found to have written the threat note and the probe is on.An Air India Express spokesperson said: “We are aware that law enforcement agencies are investigating a security-related incident involving our flight operating from Dammam to Delhi on Aug 31, pursuant to a complaint filed by us. The airline is fully cooperating with the relevant agencies in the investigation. We unequivocally condemn any conduct that compromises or has the potential to compromise the safety and security of our guests, crew and operations. Appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.”
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