Early Friday morning in the Indian skies on January 30, 2026, a high-stakes security incident occurred when an IndiGo flight (6E 1232) traveling from Kuwait to Delhi was subjected to a sudden emergency diversion. An Airbus A320 aircraft, carrying 180 passengers and 6 crew, was diverted to Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport after a handwritten note alleging a bomb was on board was found mid-flight.
The incident set off an immediate "risk-off" protocol, with the country’s aviation authorities on high alert. The drama began several hours into the trip, when a passenger reportedly discovered a piece of tissue paper in the cabin some reports suggest the lavatory with a message scrawled on it.
The note included a menacing warning of a bomb on board and a threat of hijacking. Following stringent international safety guidelines, the flight captain quickly relayed the "security threat" to Air Traffic Control (ATC). Due to the flight's position at this time, Ahmedabad was designated as the closest secure landing site.
The plane landed safely at about 6:40 AM IST and was immediately taxied to a remote isolation bay. Upon landing, Ahmedabad airport was one of intense vigilance. The aircraft was cordoned off by units of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the Ahmedabad City Police, and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS). All 180 passengers were evacuated in a controlled manner through the emergency exits and moved to a secure terminal area.
A row-by-row thorough search of the cabin was conducted and a comprehensive X-ray of all checked-in baggage and cargo was carried out. Specialized dog squads were also deployed to sniff for traces of explosives. By Friday afternoon, after hours of exhaustive inspection, security officials confirmed that no suspicious items or explosive devices had been found formally declaring the threat to be a hoax.
The flight was ultimately cleared for its onward journey to Delhi but the incident was distressing for the passengers. IndiGo issued a statement regretting the inconvenience but said the safety of customers and crew remains their "topmost priority." This diversion was the third security scare involving an Indian carrier in the first month of 2026 alone, underscoring the worrying trend of "lavatory note" hoaxes that have plagued the sector. Aviation officials and the Ministry of Civil Aviation are said to be weighing harsher penalties and stronger "no-fly list" procedures for operators of these disruptive and costly hoaxes.
