Stowaway booked under Passport Act, AI says no security threat

Jaipur/New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI) The young Indian stowaway
who hid in a toilet on an Air India Haj charter flight
carrying 273 passengers from Saudi Arabia to return to his
country was today booked under the Passport Act while the
Airline said the crew did not see him as a "security threat".
In a major security breach, the 25-year-old man Habib
Hussain sneaked into the Jaipur-bound plane at Medina and hid
into the toilet. His presence came to light about half an hour
after the flight took off from Medina when a passenger went to
the toilet. The aircraft arrived in Jaipur on Friday night.
Preliminary interrogation of Hussain, who has been
arrested, has not revealed any intention to cause any harm, a
police source said in Jaipur. He hailed from Moradabad in
Uttar Pradesh and working as a cleaner at Medina airport with
a Saudi ground handling company.
"Jaipur Police, ATS (Anti-Terrorist Squad) and SOG
(Special Operation Group) of Rajasthan Police are
interrogating the man and officials of Military Intelligence
will also interrogate him," the source said, adding Hussain
was booked under the Passport Act
"Investigation so far reveals that his aim was just to
escape from his employer in Medina and get back home. But at
the same time, this is a very serious thing which could put
passengers' lives at stake," an official said.
Hussain managed to board the Air India flight without
ticket and passport on the pretext of cleaning it.
In New Delhi, Air India said in a statement that it was
ascertained that Hussain "did not pose any threat to the
safety and security of the aircraft and the passengers".
The airline said it has sought an explanation from the
Medina ground handling company as to how one of its employees
boarded the aircraft.
During questioning by the cabin crew, it was found that
it was a stowaway case and Habib did not intend to harm
anybody after which the Pilot decided to continue with the
flight. Hussain had a valid identity card giving him access
to the security cleared zone where the aircraft was parked in
Medina, the airline said,
The Air India spokesperson said it was also found that
Hussain was an Indian national "who was desperate to reach
home as he was dissatisfied with his employment conditions".
"We have sought an explanation from the local ground
handling agency in Medina as to how one of their employees
managed to remain on board the aircraft after having performed
his assigned duties on the aircraft," the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said Air India security officials were
in Jaipur to assist local authorities in their investigation.
"We would like to reiterate that the airline has not been
informed by the police authorities of any action contemplated
against the crew of the flight," he said.
The airline maintained that Hussain was noticed by the
cabin crew after the flight had been airborne for 30 minutes.
Habib told police that he had gone to Saudi Arabia six
months ago. He, through a contractor there, got a job of a
sweeper at the Medina airport and his employer took away his
passport to ensure that he does not escape from the country.
He was also not being paid regularly despite putting up
hard work, so he wanted to come back home, Habib said.
On Friday last, he got a chance to flee and managed to
get in the Jaipur-bound Air India aircraft on the pretext of
cleaning it.
Police officials are verifying the details given by Habib
and trying to contact the agent who helped in getting him the
job in Saudi Arabia. PTI SDA
MYR