VASCO: The Dabolim International Airport was put on high alert on Monday late evening following a call to the authorities that a bomb has been placed on board a Russian charter flight ‘Azur Airways’ which was scheduled to arrive in Goa with 244 passengers from Moscow.
Later, the flight was diverted to Jamnagar Airport in Gujarat where it made an emergency landing.
Following the call, the security was immediately beefed up in and around the Dabolim International Airport with the deployment of massive police force.
The top officials of the Goa Police and airport authorities immediately held a high-level meeting to ascertain the credentials of the caller. Other agencies such as ATS, CISF, fire service and the bomb squad were activated to take care of any adverse situation.
On the other hand, all the passengers were deboarded and the aircraft was kept under isolation bay at Jamnagar Airport.
Addressing mediapersons, Mormugao DySP Salim Shaikh said, “There is an emergency situation at the Goa Airport and we have deployed additional staff as a precautionary measure and we are monitoring the activity.”
“The airport is a vital installation and there is nothing to worry as of now. We are not sure. It could be a hoax call, but we are not taking any chances at all and taking adequate precautions so that nothing happens and everything goes peacefully,” Shaikh added.
