Update: Kathmandu-bound passenger plane grounded over cryptic call in Indian capital

Authorities Monday grounded a New Delhi to Kathmandu passenger plane before its take-off, following a cryptic message from an anonymous telephone caller.

The flight of Jet Airways was grounded minutes ahead of its take-off at the Indira Gandhi International airport.

"An anonymous telephone call to police said there was some gift on seat number 18 of the plane," an official said.

Media Reports said the caller said "Happy Republic Day" before ending the call, raising suspicion from the police.

Following the scare call, bomb disposal squads were requisitioned and the plane was taken to the isolation bay for a bomb check.

The security officials de-boarded 104 passengers and seven crew members from the plane and subjected it to thorough checking.

However, no suspicious object was found during the frisking.

The flight was to take off at around 1.15 p.m local time. The plane was at the airport and yet to receive the permission for the take-off until last reports came in.

Authorities have already sounded an alert and tightened security across the country ahead of Republic Day function on Tuesday.

On Saturday, a passenger plane from Bhubaneswar to Mumbai made an emergency landing in Nagpur, following a bomb scare.

After all passengers on board were made to abandon the plane, nothing suspicious was found on the flight. Endit