Click to play videoNew Delhi: Former president Dr A P J Abdul Kalam was frisked at the Delhi international airport by employees of an American airline when he was to catch a flight to Newark, US, on April 21.
Sources at the airport said employees of Continental Airlines frisked Kalam in what is called the second line of security check. He was made to take off his shoes, hand over his belongings for scrutiny, and asked to wait before being frisked.
A duty officer of the Central Industrial Security Force, which is in charge of overall security of the Delhi airport, and a protocol officer objected and said Kalam was exempt from security checks but the US airlines insisted it had to follow rules.
Kalam went through the checking and then boarded the flight. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has ordered a probe.
Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on Tuesday said the incident would be probed and apologies would be asked for if "anybody is found wrong",.
"Whatever is needed, the Government will do. I have just been told about this issue. If anybody is found wrong, they will have to tender an apology," said Patel.
Continental Airlines said in a statement it was bound to follow aviation rules. “As all carriers flying to the USA, Continental must follow the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) procedures,” the statement said.
“TSA requirements impose a final security check in the aerobridge just before boarding the aircraft. This procedure is followed by all carriers flying to the US,” it said.
India has a list of VIPs exempted from routine security checks and frisking. This is applicable even when they are travelling by commercial flights.
The list includes 18 VIPs including the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, former Presidents, Lok Sabha Speaker, Chief Ministers, Chief Justices of High Courts and the Cabinet Secretary.
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