An IndiGo flight traveling from Jabalpur to Hyderabad was diverted to Nagpur on Sunday morning following a bomb threat. The incident caused significant disruption but, fortunately, no danger was found.
Flight 6E-7308 En Route To Hyderabad
According to an IndiGo statement, Flight 6E-7308 was en route from Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh to Hyderabad when it was rerouted to Nagpur International Airport after a bomb threat was discovered on board. The threat was communicated via a note found in the aircraft’s bathroom.
Passengers Evacuated, Thorough Check Of The Aircraft
Once the plane landed safely in Nagpur, all passengers were evacuated. Security agencies quickly began a thorough check of the aircraft and its surroundings. Despite the seriousness of the threat, no suspicious items were discovered during the inspection.
Services Resumed On Sunday
IndiGo ensured that passengers were taken care of during the delay, providing them with refreshments and assistance while they waited. The airline apologized for the inconvenience caused and thanked everyone for their patience. An airport official stated that the flight is expected to resume its journey around 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Troubling Trend Of Hoax Threats In Public Spaces
The recent bomb threat incident highlights a troubling trend of hoax threats targeting airports and public spaces. Not only airports, but shopping malls too have been part of this hoax in recent times, falling victim to bomb threats. In June, 41 airports across India, including those in Jaipur, Chennai, and Varanasi, received similar threats, which were later found to be false. This led to extensive and time-consuming security checks. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has been working to address such disruptions, proposing severe penalties for those found guilty of making false threats. These include a potential five-year ban on flying for offenders.
Other Recent Security Alerts
This incident follows other recent security alerts, including an emergency declared at Thiruvananthapuram airport on August 22 due to a bomb threat on an Air India flight. Earlier, a 13-year-old boy was detained for sending a false bomb threat to Delhi Airport in June, and multiple Mumbai hospitals also received hoax bomb threats. As investigations continue, the focus remains on preventing such threats and ensuring the safety of passengers and airport staff.