News

Air India flight delayed as sky marshal detained with weapon at BIA

Published

12 months ago

May 7, 2023

editor

Chennai-bound Air India (AI) flight was delayed by over four hours at Sri Lanka‘s Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Colombo on May 6 after the sky marshal of the aircraft was detained by the security agency with a weapon at the BIA airport.

“The sky marshal was detained at the transit terminal (passengers) area with loaded firearms, delaying the flight by over four hours,” an official with knowledge of the incident told ANI.

In India, sky marshals or flight marshals were introduced in 1999 after the hijacking of the flight Air India IC 814 in Kandahar to prevent hijacking in future. Sky marshal travel with loaded firearms/weapons in passenger (commercial) aircraft and can also take action in the aircraft for the purpose of preventing hijacking. Sky marshals are recruited from the National Security Guard (NSG) India‘s elite commando force.

According to the rules, “the sky marshal is strictly prohibited from taking his weapons out of the aircraft and if the security officer wishes to exit the aircraft, he must hand the firearm over to the aircraft‘s pilot in command (PIC).”

According to sources, “The matter was reported with the Indian High Commission in Colombo and the issue was resolved diplomatically.”
A statement from Air India was not available till the time of publishing the story.

Source – ANI

News

This week’s Cabinet decisions

Published

4 hours ago

April 26, 2024

editor

A number of decisions have been taken at the Cabinet meeting held yesterday (April 25).

The decisions taken by the Cabinet of Ministers are as follows :

CabinetDecision_E24_04_25 Download

News

Salley, leading figure behind Zahran – Fonseka (Video)

Published

5 hours ago

April 26, 2024

editor

Former Army commander Sarath Fonseka told Parliament today (April 26) that the person who had groomed the main Easter Sunday suicide bomber – Zahran Hashim, is the current head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Maj Gen (Rtd.) Suresh Salley.

Although Salley is currently trying to wash his hands off the matter, he cannot escape this, MP Fonseka said.

‘When I was there, I had removed Salley from the SIS. But he was made SIS head by Gotabaya after my departure. Then, Boniface Perera, who was Salley’s right hand man, was made the Eastern Commander. If he starts to slander me again, I will release this file to social media, which will portray what kind of man he truly is. Such people were in contact with Zahran and made him a hero,’ he said.

MP Fonseka also said that Salley had recently said that he wasn’t in the country when the attacks took place. He cannot escape the responsibility by saying he wasn’t in the country, not with the present technology available, the MP added.

He has also said that the process of identifying and nabbing a terrorist cannot be done through commissions and committees and it is the officers Intelligence services and the CID who have the relevant capacity and experience in such matters.

MP Fonseka further said that strict punishments should be given to those who were responsible for the Easter Sunday bombings and who evaded responsibility.

If we secure power, I am confident that the perpetrators can be brought to justice within a year, he further said.

Today is the final day of the three-day adjournment debate on the 2019 Easter attacks.

(Video : VoiceTube)

BIZ

2 companies from Russia & India to take over MRIA management

Published

5 hours ago

April 26, 2024

editor

Accordingly, the Cabinet approval has been granted to hand over the management of MRIA to Shaurya Aeronautics Pvt. Ltd of India and Airports of Regions Management Company of Russia or an affiliated company thereof for a period of 30 years.

Earlier during a Cabinet meeting held on Jan. 09, 2023, approval was granted to invite EOIs from interested parties for utilizing the facilities of the MRIA.

EOIs have been called, for which 05 institutions have submitted offers for the purpose.