Small plane may be used to attack Mumbai airport, warns IB

NEW DELHI: Mumbai airport has been put on alert after Intelligence Bureau warned of a possibility of a small aircraft being used to target the airport. The IB has also warned DG's of neighbouring states, like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa to keep an eye on the unused airstrips and non commercial helipads, and put small aircraft and private helicopters under strict vigil, according to Times Now.

Maharashtra police say security has been beefed up at all access points of the Chhatrapati Shivaji airport. Additional manpower has also been deployed around the airport.

The security at the airport been tightened in view of an alert sent by central agencies.

"In general, security has been beefed up at the airport, with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) as well as the Mumbai police in charge of the security. Flight operations are normal," an airport spokesperson told PTI.

Though CISF sources confirmed the development, they said there were no Mumbai-specific inputs.

"There is no specific Mumbai-related threat that we are aware of. There are similar alerts at Delhi and Chandigarh airports too. It is a general alert and all operations at the Mumbai airport are normal," a senior CISF commandant told PTI.

The security comes after a high alert was sounded across the country in wake of the heightened threat perception.

The Intelligence Bureau and the home ministry have issued an advisory directing the police of all states to remain on their toes after an email was received by media houses after the Delhi high court blast, which also warned of an attack in Gujarat on September 13. Although it has been found that the email was a hoax, the police are taking no chances.