An in-flight panic occurred on Sunday morning when IndiGo flight 6E-6650, traveling from Delhi to Bagdogra, was diverted to Lucknow due to a handwritten bomb threat. The threat was found on a piece of tissue paper in the aircraft’s lavatory, leading to an immediate emergency landing and a significant security mobilization at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport.
Identification of the Threat
The alert was raised at approximately 8:46 AM when a crew member discovered the note, which reportedly read "Bomb in the plane" written on tissue paper. Following standard operating procedures for mid-air threats, the pilots immediately contacted Air Traffic Control (ATC) and requested a diversion to the nearest high-security airport.
Landing and Flight In Case of Emergency
At 9:17 AM, an Airbus A320, carrying 238 people—including 222 adults, 8 infants, and 8 crew members—safely landed in Lucknow. Upon landing, the airplane was directed to a remote isolation bay, a secure area far from the main terminal, where it was immediately surrounded by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), local police personnel, and medical teams. Passengers were evacuated through the emergency exits and relocated to the secure terminal for additional screening. Rajneesh Verma, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), stated that the evacuation was efficient, but travelers still felt tense.
Security Investigation
Specialized Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) and canine units conducted an intense search of the aircraft, passenger luggage, and cargo hold. Initial sweeps of the aircraft did not reveal any explosive devices; however, the specific threat protocol mandates that every inch of the plane be checked.
Rising Trend of Hoaxes
This incident is the latest in a series of “hoax” threats against Indian airlines. A similar threat also affected an Akasa Air flight from Bengaluru to Ayodhya just today, resulting in an eventual report of a false alarm. Civil Aviation authorities are alarmed by these pranks, which are causing massive damage to airlines and leading passengers into great psychological distress.
"We are investigating and filing the relevant legal proceedings to determine who wrote the note," said a spokesperson for the Lucknow Police Commissionerate.
