VASCO
The panic triggered at Goa airport in Dabolim on Monday night finally settled on Tuesday afternoon after the call made to the ATC of Goa airport of a bomb on a Russian chartered flight turned out to be a hoax call.
Russian charter flight Azur Air, which was diverted to Jamnagar Airport on Monday night, amid a bomb scare finally landed at the Dabolim airport on Tuesday afternoon with 236 passengers and 8 crew.
The flight left Jamnagar Airport at around 1 pm and landed at Goa airport at around 3 pm, bringing in the Russian tourists to Goa, 15 hours after the flight made an emergency landing at Jamnagar.
Sources said the Russian flight, with 236 passengers and eight crew, was expected to land in Goa at around 10 pm on Monday but following a bomb threat, it was diverted to Jamnagar Airport which has an airforce base to deal with emergencies. Security was ramped up at Goa Airport with a huge police force, Anti-Terrorism Squad and a Bomb detection and Disposal squad activated for the emergency at Goa Airport.
"The flight landed at Jamnagar Airport at around 9.45 pm and was kept in the isolation bay for some time after which the passengers were deboarded from the plane,” said a source.
“Security forces cordoned off the Jamnagar Airport for around 9 hours after which the National security guard (NSG) along with the bomb detection and disposal squad carried out an extensive search of the plane and the luggage including cabin baggage of passengers but they found nothing suspicious.”
“The flight then left the Jamnagar Airport at around 1 pm and landed at Goa airport in Dabolim at around 3 pm," the source added.
Russian travellers thank Indian govt for quick action, service
VASCO:
Russian passengers onboard the Azur Air chartered flight heaved a sigh of relief after they finally arrived in Goa after an ordeal of shuttling between two airports amid a bomb scare.
While the passengers looked happy and some seemed exhausted, the passengers expressed gratitude to the Indian government for having taken good care of them and their safety.
A passenger said initially, no one on the flight was aware of the bomb alert but they only realised a few hours before landing at the Jamnagar airport.
"There was initial panic with the message but things settled down, and we were sure that it could be a hoax call. The Indian government was quick to respond and act on all safety measures to ensure everything was okay,” said the passenger.
“We were deboarded at Jamnagar and were taken to a lounge, but there was no shortfall of any kind. We were offered food and water and we did not face any inconveniences at all. We are all safe and we have finally landed in Goa."
Another passenger said the Indian officials at both airports showed a lot of concern to the passengers.
"The Indian people are great and took good care of us as we were already worked up. They made us feel comfortable and gave us food and water every hour and this is a very good gesture.”
“The only issue was that we were not allowed to move in and around the airport, and while it may not have been very comfortable, it is okay because finally, we were safe, and steps were taken on for our safety. We are happy to come to Goa, and we thank God that everything is fine and everyone is safe," said the passenger.
