Sources from Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Sri Lanka reported that a Chennai-bound Air India flight was delayed for approximately four hours after airport security officers detained a Sky Marshal on the flight.
The Sky Marshal had arrived at the transit passenger terminal carrying his loaded firearm.
Air India Flight Delayed Due to Marshal’s Firearm
According to the airport authorities, the Sky Marshal is not permitted to remove his firearm from the aircraft. In case the security officer needs to leave the aircraft. He is required to hand over the firearm to the chief pilot of the aircraft.
When the sky marshal of the Air India flight, who is an officer of the Special Task Force of India, arrived at the BIA transit passenger terminal with the chief pilot of the aircraft, he was carrying his firearm.
However, a BIA security officer noticed the firearm in the possession of the sky marshal. At the same time, they were on their way back to the plane and immediately informed the airport security chiefs.
In compliance with standard protocol, the Indian security officer was apprehended by the Katunayake airport security officers. In such cases where a person is caught at the airport with a firearm, they must be brought before the court.
The sources informed that there were similar incidents involving American and Russian nationals in the Katunayake airport in recent months. All of whom were also presented in court.
In this situation, both countries’ high-security chiefs and high commissions have intervened to resolve the issue promptly. Unlike previous incidents where individuals were arrested and presented to the court.
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Colombo to Chennai
According to sources, the Air India flight AI272, scheduled to depart for Chennai at 01:35 PM on 05/06, was delayed and eventually departed from Katunayake Airport at 05:35 PM local time.
As per Flightradar24, the aircraft involved in the incident is Air India Airbus A321-211 and is registered as VT-PPL. The aircraft is 14.4 years old aircraft and was delivered to the airline back in Jan 2009.
The flight landed safely with almost three hours of delays at 6:33 PM IST at Chennai International Airport (MAA).
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