IndiGo Bengaluru-Lucknow Flight Returns to Airport After Hijack Threat Found in Aircraft Toilet
IndiGo Flight 6E 451 Returns to Bengaluru Following Hijack Threat Note
An IndiGo flight from Bengaluru to Lucknow returned to Kempegowda International Airport on Saturday evening after a passenger discovered a handwritten hijacking threat inside the aircraft toilet, NDTV reported. Flight 6E 451, carrying 178 passengers, had departed at 5:50 pm.
Thirty minutes into the journey, a passenger entered the lavatory and found a note on a piece of paper, according to reports by The Times of India. The message read, “This plane is going to get hijacked exactly at 06:30. Ignore and see the consequences.” The passenger immediately alerted the cabin crew.
Authorities Declare Full Emergency at Terminal 1
The pilot informed Air Traffic Control and requested a priority return as a precautionary measure. According to Open Magazine, airport authorities declared a full emergency at Terminal 1 before the aircraft touched down.
Ground teams directed the plane to an isolated bay. The Central Industrial Security Force and local police secured the perimeter while bomb disposal units and dog squads conducted a thorough sweep of the cabin and passenger baggage, Open Magazine noted. Police also questioned passengers on board, with sources indicating to NDTV that investigators suspected the note may have been planted by someone in the cabin.
Police Declare Security Threat a Hoax After Search
IndiGo issued a press statement confirming that a security threat was reported onboard. “In line with Standard Operating Procedure, the relevant authorities were informed immediately and the pilots decided to return to origin to carry out the necessary security checks, as per protocol,” the airline said.
India Today reported that the airline provided passengers with refreshments and regular updates while the aircraft underwent screening. Following a 90-minute search, senior police officials told The Times of India that the threat was declared a hoax. The flight was scheduled to resume its journey to Lucknow once it received final security clearances.