In a serious lapse of security at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru, seven people reached the boarding gate without having gone through the mandatory frisking.
The incident took place on Monday night at around 9pm. Staff members of Indigo airlines took note of four women passengers at a boarding gate whose boarding passes had not been stamped by security personnel. The women who were bound for Pune were later taken to the domestic security holding area and underwent security check before they were allowed to board the flight.
Shortly after this incident, a second group consisting of two men and one woman boarded a flight to Nagpur. It was only after they had boarded that the staff members of the airline noticed their passes had not been stamped.
The Additional Director General (airport sector) has reportedly asked for a thorough investigation into the incident and has written to the KIA personnel asking for a response.
Dated June 18, the letter has sought a proper explanation about the incident.
According to reports, the security booth was not manned at the time the passengers entered the security check premises. As a result, these passengers went through without any frisking or checking taking place.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CSIF) stated that the seven passengers crossed through an unmanned frisking area and went through it collecting their bags. One set of passengers who were headed to Pune was made to go back and undergo security check after an airline staff member noticed there were no stamps on the boarding passes. The other group managed to board the flight and reached their destination in Nagpur, before the incident was flagged.
CISF headquarters in Delhi will look into the issue and decide on the next course of action.