Turkish Airlines plane returns to bay after unclaimed mobile found

MUMBAI: An Istanbul-bound flight of Turkish Airlines was called back from the runway here this morning after an "unclaimed" mobile phone was found on a seat of the Boeing 777 plane.

The aircraft was brought back to the bay and all the passengers were deplaned for a thorough frisking.

The Boeing 777-300ER plane was scheduled to take off for Istanbul at 0625 hours.

"Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul was called back from the runway at Mumbai airport after a suspicious object was found in the aircraft," a Mumbai Airport spokesperson said.

Airport sources, however, said it was an unclaimed mobile phone which forced the pilot to return the plane to the bay.