Singapore-bound flight from Bengaluru delayed due to hoax security alarm by passenger

BENGALURU: A Singapore-bound Scoot flight from Bengaluru TR 573 was delayed by more than 15 hours after a false security alarm was raised by one of the passengers.
The flight, scheduled to depart at 1.20am, was finally set for departure at 4.45 pm. Over 173 passengers were left stranded at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) due to the incident. Singapore Airlines officials, while confirming the incident, stated that a 'verbal' security threat was issued by the passenger in question, due to which he had to be deboarded by the CISF personnel. All the remaining passengers were also deboarded and their luggage offloaded after which they had to be rescreened for security and immigration clearance, said airport authorities.
"A hoax security threat was made at 0148 hrs on April 23, 2019, relating to Scoot Airlines Flight TR573 (BLR - SIN). Standard security protocols and procedures were followed and no suspicious items found. A passenger was de-boarded from the flight by the CISF. The remaining passengers and baggage were also de-boarded and rescreened for security and immigration clearance. A replacement aircraft and crew is being flown into Bangalore. The flight is now scheduled to depart Bengaluru to Singapore at 1620 hrs on April 23, 2019. Meanwhile, food and refreshments have been organised. During this time, there was no impact on operations at the Airport. At the BLR Airport, we treat all security threats very seriously and work in coordination with security agencies to ensure safety of our passengers," said an official Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) spokesperson.
A replacement flight from Singapore, operated by a whole new set of crew, had been arranged by the airlines to ferry the affected passengers from Bengaluru to Singapore, said a Singapore Airlines spokesperson.
"Scoot flight TR573, operating Bengaluru-Singapore, was scheduled to depart on 23 April 2019 at 1.20am local time. Due to a verbal security threat, a passenger had to be removed from the flight by airport security. All passengers were required to undergo security screening and immigration clearance again, and no suspicious items were found. As a result of the additional security procedures, flight time limits of the operating crew were exceeded," said a Singapore Airlines spokesperson, on Tuesday.
"Scoot has mounted a replacement flight from Singapore, operated by a new set of crew, to transport affected customers from Bengaluru to Singapore. The replacement flight TR573D is scheduled to depart Bengaluru on 23 April 2019 at 4.45pm local time. Refreshments are being provided to customers at the airport during the delay," the airline spokesperson added.
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