NEW DELHI (TIP): A cabin crew member of an Air India flight was detained by the Jeddah Airport authorities on charges of smuggling out gold.

The detained cabin crew was to board the flight bound for Kochi, along with 11 other crew members, sources said.

The incident which happened this morning forced Air India to operate the flight with 11 cabin crew members instead of mandatory 12, the sources added.

There was no official word from Air India.

An Air India spokesperson later confirmed the detention of one of its cabin crew members but said that the reason was yet to be known.

“The cabin crew is still in detention. We are ascertaining the reason behind his detention,” the spokesperson said, adding that the airline will take suitable action in this regard.