In another security lapse, a 16-year-old “searching for his girlfriend” was found roaming on the taxiway at Chennai airport Wednesday evening.
A pilot of a private airline spotted him during takeoff and alerted air traffic control. The teen hailing from Chhattisgarh was immediately whisked away by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel and later arrested by police and sent to a juvenile home.
He had scaled the boundary wall using debris dumped near gate number 7 and walked in.
CISF questioned the boy working in a plastic company at Karapakkam for nearly four hours before handing him over to police.
The teen claimed he came in search of his girlfriend after roommates advised him to look for her at the airport.
“It was a serious security lapse. Whatever the intention, intrusion is serious,” said airport director E.P. Hareendranathan.
He said Airports Authority of India (AAI) had ordered an inquiry.
About the debris that helped the teen scale the wall, Mr Hareendranathan said he had ordered its immediate removal.
CISF officials said the paramilitary had been asking AAI to remove the debris for the past one month. “Our job is to provide security, while infrastructure development, including removal of bushes, trees and mud, is under AAI control,” they said.
The officials rued lack of video surveillance near gate number 7. “We have been told AAI is in the process of purchasing CCTV cameras.”