A college student caused quite a stir among Super Air Jet passengers yesterday when he claimed to have carried a bomb on board the aircraft. As a result of his ill-advised prank, all passengers were promptly disembarked before the scheduled departure.
Reports say that the incident took place yesterday at around 6:20am on flight IU 787, which was scheduled for departure from Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport to Medan via Bandung.
Ricky, 23, was stowing his black bag in the overhead cabin of seat 24E of the flight IU 787. Curious about the bag’s contents, a flight attendant questioned Ricky, who impulsively responded with the claim that it contained a bomb.
“He was just joking,” said I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport Authority Head Agustinus Budi Harto.
The flight attendant reprimanded Ricky for his inappropriate jest, prompting him to apologize for his words.
Nevertheless, the flight attendant relayed Ricky’s remark to the flight’s captain, resulting in the immediate disembarkation of all passengers for a thorough baggage reinspection.
Subsequently, passengers of the flight were directed to the check-in counter while Ricky was apprehended by the aviation security officers. Police have not announced any charges against Ricky, though under Indonesia’s Aviation Law, misinformation that compromises flight safety is a crime punishable by up to one year in prison.
Flight IU 787 resumed its journey approximately 85 minutes later following the meticulous baggage inspection. The aircraft arrived safely at Kualanamu Airport in Medan.
