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AirAsia India jet makes emergency landing after bomb hoax
An AirAsia India plane declared a mid-flight emergency after a woman threatened to blow the plane up.
The Mumbai-bound flight with 114 passengers onboard returned to Kolkata Airport after a hand-written note was given to the pilot on the woman’s request.
She was later identified as 25-year old Mohini Mondol.
Mondol threatened to detonate three bombs she claimed were strapped to her body.
Although it turned out to be a hoax, the pilot took no chances and alerted Kolkata Airport authorities.
On landing, the plane was ushered to an isolation bay at the airport.
She was then arrested by security forces, who said she appeared to be inebriated.
"There was no bomb strapped to her body. Further investigation is ongoing. She has yet to divulge why she created the bomb scare, why was she going to Mumbai and why she wanted the flight to return to Kolkata," a spokesman for the airport police station told local media.
Aviation regulator DGCA later cleared the aircraft to resume operations.
Authorities said Mondol may undergo a mental health evaluation.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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