MAN BANNED FROM AIRPORT FOR JOKING HE HAD A BOMB; EXCLUSIVE.

Byline: BY FIONNUALA BOURKE

A MAN has been banned from Birmingham International Airport after boarding an Air India flight claiming he had a bomb just hours before the Mumbai blasts.

The passenger managed to get through security staff at Terminal 1 to take his seat on a plane for Delhi, despite 'joking' that he had an explosive device.

Airline staff alerted police, who took the man - who had been drinking - off the plane and into custody.

The hoaxer, who is also said to have 'mental problems', has not been charged with any offence but has been issued with an exclusion order banning him from the airport. The drama took place at 10.30am on Tuesday.

Two and a half hours later seven bombs exploded on the Indian train network in Mumbai, killing almost 200 people and injuring nearly 500 more.

A Birmingham International Airport source claims that security staff employed by private consultants ICTS failed to stop the man boarding the flight.

ICTS staff are responsible for carrying out baggage X-ray screen and security checks 'airside'.

The source said: "The man went through security, including the final body search area operated by ICTS, while joking that that he had a bomb on him.

"This was just hours before the bombs went off in Mumbai.

"When he got onto the aircraft, the Air India staff heard about the incident and contacted the police immediately.

"Police officers then boarded the plane and hauled the man off. He was held in custody."

Security at Birmingham International Airport is run by ICTS, which has refused to comment on the incident.

But an airport spokeswoman said: "The man who boarded a flight on Tuesday while making claims he had a bomb on him was removed from both the plane and airport. He was issued him with an exclusion order banning him from the airport, including taking flights from here. "The airport takes these matters very seriously. Passenger security is of paramount importance to us."

A spokesman for Air India said: "The man was mentally unstable. Just before he boarded the aircraft he made a statement that he had a bomb. "The airport manager called me to ask what to do. We can't risk the life of our passengers so we off loaded him and handed him over to the police."

West Midlands Police said the man was 'reported to be drunk'.

A spokesman added: "The terminal duty manager at the airport issued the man with an exclusion order, which means that he won't be able to return to the airport." It is not the first time that ICTS employees have sparked security fears.

In January we reported how three baggage screeners employed by the firm were sacked for being drunk on the job.

And three years ago we spoke to two security guards who claimed that some suitcases were going unchecked because of staff shortages.

The exclusion order effectively bans the man from the airport grounds and from taking flights from its terminals.

Birmingham builder James Tully faces jail for joking to check-in staff at Birmingham International Airport that he was carrying a bomb.

The 41 year-old, from Kings Heath, told a supervisor he had packed his suitcases with Semtex.

He admitted making a false communication, a charge which carries a maximum sentence of seven years, when he appeared at Solihull Magistrates Court on July 7.

Tully, who had been drinking prior to the incident, was bailed to appear before Warwick Crown Court for sentencing on August 3.

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