A cargo plane belonging to logistics firm UPS (United Parcel Service) was forced to return to Mumbai airport within 45 minutes of take-off on Saturday night after someone tipped the authorities that one of the consignments on the flight had contraband.

The Boeing 744 plane had taken off from the Mumbai airport at 9.30 pm on Saturday night. But, the Mumbai airport customs officials asked the Air Traffic Control (ATC) to ask the flight to return to the city airport. The plane landed at the airport at around 10.15 pm.

Confirming the incident, an ATC official said that one of the consignments on the flight lacked the obligatory custom papers and upon inspection from the Customs officials, the plane was ordered to return to the airport.

After the plane landed back in Mumbai, customs officials checked the consignment, but they found no contraband. However, a source said that customs officials found ten cricket bats and a Buddha idol that were hollow from inside.

The source added that someone had apparently removed the contents from the hollow items.

Speaking on the topic, the source further said, "The smugglers probably got wind of the fact that customs officials have information about the consignment. The airport customs have seized the items for investigation."

Earlier on October 3, the two gates of the Mumbai airport were left unattended for more than three hours following a clash between customs authorities and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).