Mumbai, August 19: A luggage caught fire at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on the morning of August 16, sparking a major security scare. The blaze erupted in a bag containing a flammable chemical just before it was to be loaded onto Ethiopian Airlines flight ET-641, which was carrying nearly 200 passengers. The fire was quickly extinguished by airport staff, preventing any escalation. The blaze was reportedly caused by a hazardous substance known as "hydrogen spirit" packed inside the bag, carried by a 32-year-old passenger, Sameer Narayan Bishwas, travelling to Ethiopia allegedly on behalf of a Congo-based contact.

Following the alarming incident at Mumbai Airport, the Sahar police acted swiftly, arresting five individuals involved in the smuggling of the flammable chemical. As reported by the Indian Express, the primary suspect, Bishwas, was deboarded from the flight immediately after the fire was detected. Bishwas, a resident of West Bengal, was travelling to Ethiopia and then to Congo and admitted to carrying the hazardous material from Congo on behalf of Naveen Sharma. Mumbai Airport Waterlogging Video: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Terminal 2 Waterlogged Amid IMD’s Intense Rain Forecast (Watch Video).

During the police investigation, Bishwas revealed the names of those who assisted him in bringing the chemical into the airport. Consequently, authorities apprehended Nandan Yadav, Suresh Singh, Vishwanath Senjundhar, and Akhilesh Yadav. Yadav had received the chemical from Singh, who operates A S Logistics near the airport, under the directions of Senjundhar. Akhilesh Yadav assisted Yadav in transporting the chemical to the airport. Mumbai: Kenyan Woman Arrested With INR 20 Crore Worth Cocaine in Shampoo and Lotion Bottles at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport; Visual Surfaces.

The accused have been charged under sections 125, 327, and 51(2) of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and section 3(1)(C) of the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation Act. The police are further investigating the motives behind the illegal transport and potential security breaches that allowed the hazardous material to nearly board the aircraft. All five have been remanded to police custody for five days.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 19, 2024 09:23 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).