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Picture of clay-like substance hidden inside a power bank in the check-in baggage of a passenger at Mangalore airport on Tuesday.

Cellphone bomb found hidden in passenger luggage by X-ray machine at Mangalore Airport in India

NEW DELHI: In a major scare at Mangalore Airport on Tuesday, a Dubai-bound passenger’s power bank was found to have a suspicious clay-like object in his check-in baggage.

The flight in question was an Indigo Airlines aircraft plying directly from Mangaluru to Dubai.

"IndiGo’s alert security screener staff at Mangalore caught a suspect carrying alleged cellphone bomb today. The matter has been reported to the local police. Since it is a sensitive security matter we have nothing more to share. IndiGo is committed to providing the highest levels of safety and security for its passengers at all times," the airliner said in a series of tweets.

While the dog squad gave "mixed signal" if it was an explosive or some chemical that could be used to launch a chemical gas attack in plane, the suspicious object did not turn out to be an explosive. Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) chief Rajesh Kumar Chandra has directed the airline on which the person was travelling to file an FIR against him so that the substance could be probed to find out what it really is and why it was being attempted to be taken inside the plane.

"The passenger, M Mohammed, was booked on IndiGo’s flight 6E 877 from Mangalore to Bangalore at 10 pm on Tuesday and then he was to travel from Bangalore to Dubai on IndiGo flight 6E 95 Wednesday (September 20) at 7.20 am. While screening his checked in baggage at Mangalore, the screener noticed that a power bank was in his bag which looked suspicious (as it showed a green coloured thick image). (The screener) did a physical check and opened the power bank to check and noticed a clay like substance in the power bank," said a senior official.

The screener raised an alarm and the Central Industrial Security Force dog squad was pressed into service. While the dog squad gave "mixed signal of positive and negative". An explosive trace detection test was conducted which showed it was not an explosive.

BCAS was informed of this and the aviation security agency’s chief Rajesh Kumar Chandra asked IndiGo to lodge an FIR so that detailed examination of the clay-like substance could be carried out and also determine why it was being taken on the plane.

This issue is being taken very seriously as MHA, based on intelligence inputs, has warned that the spectre of chemical attacks by terrorists looms over aircraft — by releasing toxic gases — and other modes of transport in India. The Centre has issued an alert to all states and security agencies to step up frisking and baggage checks at airports and security personnel have been asked to be on the lookout for any substance that could be used to launch a chemical attack of releasing deadly toxic gases on aircraft.

MHA wrote on September 1 to all states, aviation ministry and other agencies saying: "Terrorists could also adapt chemical warfare capabilities to conduct chemical attacks outside of the conflict zone by creating toxic gases from materials available at from a hardware store or easily produced materials.... Toxic gases pose the greatest hazard when made in an enclosed space, underscoring the risk to aircraft, buses or trains."

According to the home ministry, intelligence inputs indicate explosives concealed inside personal electronics, small appliances and personal items could be taken on a plane or even shipped by airmail.