According to the police, the crude bomb was found wrapped in a newspaper at the cargo section, while the crew was clearing that section of the plane.
The discovery triggered alarms in Bangalore and Thiruvananthapuram, leading to a high-level investigation on how it got past the many layers of security. All passengers and crew, however, had deplaned safely.
“It is not a bomb but certainly one which is explosive in nature,†said Thiruvananthapuram police chief MR Ajith Kumar.
The aircraft was quickly cordoned off and searched before it was allowed to return to Bangalore later in the afternoon.
Police have since taken into custody what they say is a prime suspect in the case. The man, a former contract employee at the airport, is suspected to have planted the explosive in the aircraft, police said, but discounted any terror link in the incident.