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Aiel · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 927 Location: Bangalore

India airline gun security breach
Nusli Wadia, was found to be flying from Mumbai (Bombay) to Dubai last week with a revolver and 30 live bullets. They said that Mr Wadia checked-in the weapon and bullets without making the mandatory disclosures to relevant security and immigration authorities. Mr Wadia, the chairman of the private Go Air airline, was flying on 13 January on an Air India flight.
The firearm and bullets were only detected when his bag went through the screening machine at the security counter at Dubai airport.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6276043.stm

A fact mentioned there:
Mr. Wadia is a grandson of Pakistan's founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
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JumboJet · Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:46 am Post subject:

Can you reprimand responsible and industry related people with such irresponsible behaviour.

Did Nusli Wadia think that he can get away with this act either with his chairmanship of the airline, or of his status and social standing, or his financial interests in the country or yes, with that of his roots. Such arrogant attitude must not be tolerated and a lesson should be taught to set a precedent.

Let us see if Wadia is booked or is the chapter closed. All this can happen in India. Rolling Eyes

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HAWK21M · Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:53 am Post subject:

Surprise.
Don't tell me He never knew the rules Smile

regds
MEL
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karatecatman · Guest

Did he think he would get away because he helped select the new seats for Air India's new fleet? Wink

Or because wife Maureen Wadia was a former Air India airhostess? (JRD Tata days) Wink

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Mr. Wadia now says that "his baggage was packed by his servant who put them in his luggage by mistake" and that he knew nothing about their contents, it was just a storm in a tea-cup and he was able to show the Dubai authorities his gun permit and license. Exclamation

Air India ground staff are now in a bit of trouble for this. A senior AI security officer has been suspended.

Air India is also in more trouble, because 21 labourers were deported from Muscat. After the Govt. of Oman made an issue, GoI now wants to know how Air India allowed them to fly as their visas were not checked.
(Baksheesh under the table)!

the_380 · Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 3:20 pm Post subject:

He'll deifnatly get away on grounds of security and personal threat blah blah blah
But the question is how many more people could have smuggled arms in a similar manner?
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COUGAR · Member Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Posts: 986 Location: Bangalore

I am shocked that a respected man of Mr.Wadias stature is flying a third-rate airline like Air India!

Or is he so cheap that he is wiggling a free upgrade using his wifes AI connections? We all know of how easily people manage that on AI these days!

Anyways good to see that an AI security official has been fired for what is clearly a breach of responsibility!
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karatecatman · Guest

It is quickly becoming a huge issue.
Ministry of CAviation has ordered an enquiry, although BCAS has said it will not press charges.
Air India has now suspended 2 ground staff and the officer in charge of Xray checks. It has also issued a statement to say that "Security for Air India is a top priority, and although Mr. Wadia is a commercially important person on Air India's guest list, it will need to investigate the incident."
Mr. W now says that he was in a hurry to leave for Dubai and asked his domestic staff to pack his luggage and deliver it to him at the airport. He had no idea of what was inside. It was only on reaching Dubai that he was "shocked to know that he had live ammunition in his baggage. The ammunition was in an old toiletries kit that was packed in by mistake."
Wadia was also questioned for over an hour at Dubai and they are supposed to have "been very helpful".

Seems to be exactly the same thing that Prasad Biddappa said when he was detained at Dubai. "Domestic staff are to blame".

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Mr. W anyway doesn;t have a great image with the Intelligence Bureau.

Aseem · Member Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 2841 Location: YYZ

not sympathizing, but why would anybody in right mind besides (DI) would want to travel to DXB with gun in luggage. It is different though that AI staff is to blame for not checking properly.
rgds
VT-ASJ

karatecatman · Guest

Anyway, using a gun in Dubai is risky. Unless he was "scared of" the D Company.

Air India now says Mr. W is not on its VIP list. Wish AI makes up its mind.

HAWK21M · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:53 pm Post subject:

I think the Issue is more of the "NON DETECTION" of the weapon during Lugage screening.
We need to find out if it was ever screened & if so how many times & why not detection.

regds
MEL
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malQ · Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 3:13 pm Post subject:

In this case Mr. Nusli Wadia is, to the best of my knowledge, a British citizen. Now agreed that does not make a difference either way in the case of something to do with the Arms Act or Aviation Act, but it does bring a perspective - will Mr. Wadia be barred entry into India for carrying weapons around? And how did he get an Indian arms weapon, are non-Indians permitted Idian weapons licences?