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| Sunday, 11 September 2005 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Saudi Air bomb scare: Police suspect inside job by Jayampathy Jayasinghe Police investigating the accident at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) last Thursday where a Sri Lankan woman died and 74 passengers sustained injuries when they attempted to bail out of the "Saudi Air " flight when a bomb scare was announced suspect that the panic call to the Air Traffic Control office had originated from some one within the BIA premises. To unravel the mystery regarding the anonymous caller, North Western Province, DIG Asoka Wijetilleka had requested the IGP, to detail the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to conduct a full scale investigation into the incident. The incident happened last Thursday around 1.55. When the Air Traffic Controller at the BIA alerted the pilot of the "Saudi Air" flight proceeding towards the runaway, about a bomb on board from an anonymous caller. The pilot had immediately brought the aircraft to a halt and ordered an immediate evacuation of passengers. The Saudi Air flight was bound to Jeddah city. BIA Police OIC, Inspector Perera said there were a total of 452 passengers on board and many had panicked trying to bail out of the aircraft through eight shooters used during an emergency evacuation operation. A woman fell to her death while being pushed by other passengers trying to leave the aircraft. The dead woman has been identified as one Samsum K. Majeed from Bibile who had travelled to Saudi Arabia on six occasions. The body was handed over to her relatives on Friday for burial. Meanwhile the Aviation Authority too is conducting an inquiry regarding the incident. Officials however were not available for comment on Saturday. |
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