Bomb hoaxes trigger emergency landings for Indigo and Air India Express flights

IndiGo and Air India Express flights forced into emergency landings following bomb threats. Airlines struggle with mounting financial losses as authorities trace hoax calls to international IP addresses.

A fresh wave of bomb threats has struck Indian airlines, forcing multiple emergency landings and stirring panic among passengers.

On October 19, IndiGo and Air India Express flights were targeted in a series of hoax threats, severely disrupting operations and creating security concerns.

IndiGo Airlines received bomb threats for five of its flights, including four international and one domestic. Among the affected flights were 6E 11 (Delhi to Istanbul), 6E 17 (Mumbai to Istanbul), 6E 58 (Chennai to Colombo), 6E 108 (Hyderabad to Chandigarh), and 6E 184 (Jodhpur to Delhi).

The airline quickly responded by coordinating with authorities, ensuring passenger safety, and following established procedures.

In a statement issued on October 19, IndiGo said, “We are cognisant of a situation involving flight 6E 17 operating from Mumbai to Istanbul. The safety and security of our passengers and crew is our highest priority, and we are working closely with the relevant authorities while taking all necessary precautions as per the guidelines." The airline issued a similar statement regarding flight 6E 11, ensuring that the situation was being managed in strict accordance with safety protocols.

For flight 6E 184 from Jodhpur to Delhi, the aircraft was promptly grounded in Delhi after receiving a security alert. IndiGo confirmed, “The aircraft has landed in Delhi, and customers have disembarked the aircraft. We are coordinating with security agencies as per procedure.” The airline expressed its regret for any inconvenience caused and thanked passengers for their understanding.

Air India Express was also affected, with its Jaipur-bound flight from Dubai receiving a bomb threat via email. The flight, which had 189 passengers onboard, landed safely at Jaipur International Airport at 1:20 AM on October 19.

Following a thorough security check by the authorities, no suspicious items were found, according to a police official, reported by ANI.

The frequency of these hoax threats continues to impact Indian airlines, and authorities are considering stricter norms, including possible no-fly lists for individuals involved in such cases.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation is also reviewing current security protocols to address these disruptions more effectively and ensure the safety of passengers and crew across all flights.