US student detained at Chennai airport for carrying banned satellite phone

CHENNAI: Security officials at Chennai International Airport detained an American student early Thursday after he was found in possession of a satellite phone, a device banned in India for security reasons.

The incident took place as a Scoot Airlines flight bound for Singapore was preparing for departure at 12.30 a.m.

During a routine security check, airport officials detected the satellite phone in the baggage of Oakley Jackson (22), an American national travelling to Australia via Singapore.

Jackson, a university student from the US, had arrived in Chennai last week from Delhi on a tourist visit.

Upon questioning, he claimed he was unaware that satellite phones were prohibited in India and explained that he had carried the device with him from the US to Delhi and then to Chennai without facing any issues. However, security officials at Chennai Airport did not accept his explanation, citing national security concerns.

The student’s flight ticket was immediately cancelled, and the satellite phone was confiscated.

Both Jackson and the seized device were subsequently handed over to the airport police station for further investigation.