New Delhi, July 21 - Former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was subjected to a body search for the first time by employees of a US airline in Delhi when he was boarding a flight in April to Newark, his office said Tuesday, adding he does go through the standard security drill while travelling abroad.

The issue created a storm in the Rajya Sabha with Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel promising a probe into the incident and saying a show-cause notice would be sent to the carrier.

'He did not complain when he was frisked and took in his stride. Everyone was being checked and so was he,' said Kalam's personal secretary H.Sheridan.

Kalam was frisked by the ground staff of Continental Airlines at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) when he was on the aerobridge while boarding the non-stop flight to Newark, New Jersey.

'He had left the ceremonial lounge and there were a few airlines staff on the aerobridge who were checking passengers,' said Sheridan.

'Till date he has not been frisked while leaving India. That was the first occasion. However, when he travels abroad he goes through the regular drill of going through detectors but that is minimal,' Sheridan told IANS.

India has a list of VIPs exempted from routine security checks and frisking. This is applicable even when they are travelling by commercial flights.

The list includes the president, vice-president, prime minister, former presidents, Lok Sabha Speaker, chief ministers, chief justices of the Supreme Court and high courts, the cabinet secretary, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and members of her family.

The airline has defended its action stating it was company policy to conduct security checks on all passengers and it did not make a distinction for VIPs.