Air India seeks explanation from Medina agency over stowaway episode

Air India has sought an explanation from the ground handling agent in Medina in Saudi Arabia as to how one of its employees boarded its Haj charter aircraft to flee to India.

"We have sought an explanation from the local ground handling agency in Medina as to how one of their employees managed to remain on board the aircraft after having performed his assigned duties on the aircraft," an Air India spokesperson said today.

Habib Hussain (25), who hid inside the toilet and was found when the Medina-Jaipur flight was airborne, has been arrested by the police in Jaipur. He was being questioned by the Anti-terror Squad and Special Operations Group of the Rajasthan police.

The spokesperson said Air India security officials were in Jaipur to assist local authorities in their investigation.

"We would like to reiterate that the airline has not been informed by the police authorities of any action contemplated against the crew of the flight," he said.

Maintaining that Hussain was noticed by the cabin crew after the flight had been airborne for 30 minutes, he said on interrogation, it was ascertained that Hussain was holding a valid identity card enabling him access to the security cleared zone where the aircraft was parked in Medina.