Jakarta, Indonesia Sentienel — A woman was forcibly removed from a flight in Indonesia after joking about carrying a bomb onboard, prompting airport security to intervene and conduct additional safety inspection.
The incident occurred on Batik Air Flight ID-6272, which was scheduled to depart from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, near Jakarta, to Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado, North Sulawesi, on April 15.
According to Batik Air spokesperson Danang Mandala Prihantoro, the female passenger, identified by the initials F.A. seated in 11E, made a threatening remark to a flight attendant during the aircraft’s pre-departure preparations. She allegedly claimed to be carrying a bomb.
Flight crew immediately reported the statement to the captain and aviation security personnel, in accordance with standard safety and security protocols. The airline then removed the woman from the plane and barred her from continuing the flight.
She was handed over to civil aviation authorities from Airport Authority Region I and local police at Soekarno-Hatta Airport for further investigation.
“The passenger was not permitted to continue the journey and was escorted off the aircraft for legal processing,” Danang said in a statement on Wednesday.
Following a thorough safety inspection, authorities confirmed there was no explosive device or suspicious object onboard, and the aircraft was deemed safe for departure.
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The airline emphasized that any statements, jokes, or comments referencing bombs, terrorism, or acts of violence within airport or aircraft environments are treated as serious offenses.
Under Indonesian Aviation Law No. 1 of 2009, Article 437 prohibits individuals from providing false information that endangers flight safety — including bomb-related jokes. Violators may face up to one year in prison, with penalties increasing to eight years if flight operations are disrupted.
“We urge all passengers to comply with aviation regulations, especially the strict prohibition on bomb jokes, in order to maintain safe, orderly, and comfortable travel for everyone,” Danang said.
(Raidi/Agung)
