NEW DELHI, April 26 — ‌A Swiss International flight from Delhi to Zurich had to abort its takeoff early on ‌Sunday and six passengers were injured during an emergency evacuation, a source familiar with the matter said.

One of the aircraft’s engines failed and caught fire as the plane was accelerating for takeoff, prompting the crew to stop the plane and initiate an emergency evacuation, ‌the Economic Times reported.

The injured passengers have ⁠been sent to ⁠hospital, said the source, who ⁠was not authorised ⁠to speak ⁠to media and declined to be identified.

The aircraft was an Airbus A330, ⁠according to Flightradar24.

Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport said earlier on X that it had declared an emergency following the incident on flight LX147.

Runway operations at ⁠the airport have since resumed and all other flights were on schedule, the ⁠source added.

Delhi airport, India’s busiest, has four ⁠operational runways.

Swiss ⁠International did not immediately respond to a Reuters email seeking comments. — Reuters

COLOMBO, April 26 — Twenty-two Sri Lankan monks returning from Thailand were arrested on Sunday at the main international airport with 110 kilogrammes (242 pounds) of powerful cannabis, officials said.

A Sri Lanka Customs spokesman said the group, returning home after a four-day holiday in the Thai capital, had Kush — a potent, plant-based strain of cannabis — hidden in their luggage.

“Each carried about five kilos of the narcotic concealed within false walls in their luggage,” the spokesman said, adding that the monks had been handed over to police.

They were to be taken before a magistrate later on Sunday.

The monks were mostly young students from temples across Sri Lanka and had been on a holiday sponsored by a businessman.

Customs officials said it was the largest single detection of Kush at the South Asian country’s main international airport.

A 21-year-old British woman was arrested in May last year with 46 kilogrammes (101 pounds) of the drug at the same airport. She was also travelling to Colombo from Bangkok.

Sri Lankan authorities have also made several detections of large hauls of heroin and other narcotics smuggled in via small fishing boats in recent years. — AFP

KOTA BHARU, April 26 — The motorcycle convoy to Sultan Ismail Petra Airport (LTSIP) here yesterday was not organised by the Kelantan state government, but was an individual initiative.

Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan said the state government had no involvement in the activity, stressing that all parties must comply with regulations, especially in public areas.

“All parties must always adhere to the law and prioritise safety, particularly in sensitive locations such as airports.

“Cooperation is essential to ensure public safety and to avoid disrupting operations at such facilities,” he told reporters here today.

He noted that airports are strategic locations requiring a high level of security to ensure smooth passenger movement.

Earlier, a social media post went viral about a programme called “Konvoi & Lepak Mat Motor Bersama YB”, allegedly organised by the Government Supporters Club and State PAS Youth Wing from 5 pm to 7 pm

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Anthony Loke was reported to have described the involvement of several Kelantan assemblymen in organising the convoy to LTSIP as highly irresponsible. — Bernama

 

 

KOTA BHARU, April 26 — A motorcycle convoy in Kelantan held without the approval of the police was proclaimed a success by the organising assemblyman after its participants used lorong tikus (side streets) to evade the blockades.

Melor assemblyman Wan Rohimi Wan Daud, who organised the ‘Konvoi Motosikal dan Lepak Anak Muda Bersama YB YB’, said the programme still proceeded and attracted about 3,000 motorcyclists despite delays caused by police checks, the New Straits Times reported.

“We had to shorten the programme because we were delayed by the roadblocks. I saw no fewer than seven roadblocks, but they were all outsmarted by us.

“When I found out there were many police roadblocks, we used side streets. Serves them right,” he was quoted as saying during the programme yesterday.

Wan Rohimi said he was satisfied with the turnout and planned to organise a larger-scale version of the programme in future.

The convoy reportedly did not enter the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport grounds, instead passed in front of the building towards Pantai Sabak as authorities were stationed at the entrance.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke had previously directed the Road Transport Department to work with police to inspect motorcycles, including those ridden by assemblymen, to prevent entry into the airport.

Loke described the convoy initiative involving several Kelantan assemblymen as highly irresponsible.

Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat confirmed that police did not receive any application from organisers for the programme and said roadblocks were mounted around Kota Bharu leading to the airport.