An IndiGo flight traveling from Mumbai to Delhi, designated as 6E 762, received a bomb threat while airborne on Tuesday morning, September 30, 2025. The incident immediately triggered a high-level security alarm among aviation agencies, prompting a swift and comprehensive response.
Incident and Protocol
The threat was discovered by a crew member who found a note with the word ‘BOMB’ written on it inside one of the aircraft’s lavatories. The crew member immediately alerted the pilot, who in turn informed the local Air Traffic Control (ATC).
Following standard operating procedure for such emergencies, Bomb Threat Assessment Committees (BTAC) were simultaneously constituted at both Mumbai and Delhi airports. These committees, which comprise representatives from key security and operational bodies—including the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), and the airport operator—were tasked with evaluating the threat’s credibility and determining the necessary course of action.
Threat Declared ‘Non-Specific’
Upon assessment, the multi-agency BTAC declared the threat to be ‘non-specific’. Despite this classification, extreme caution was taken:
- The aircraft was given a priority landing upon arrival at Delhi.
- It was immediately directed to a secluded bay away from regular operations.
- A thorough check was conducted by security personnel before the aircraft was finally declared safe and cleared for operations.
IndiGo Confirms and Reassures Passengers
IndiGo confirmed the security threat on flight 6E 762. In a statement, the airline confirmed that all established protocols were followed, and they immediately informed and fully cooperated with the relevant authorities to carry out the necessary security checks.
The airline also addressed the inconvenience caused to passengers, stating, “We made all efforts to minimise inconvenience to our customers, including offering refreshments and providing regular updates. As always, safety and security of our customers, crew and aircraft are our topmost priorities.”
Background of Hoax Threats
The incident is the latest in a troubling trend of hoax threats targeting India’s domestic airlines in recent years. Government data highlights the scale of the issue:
- A total of 1,143 hoax bomb threats were made to domestic airlines between August 2022 and November 13, 2024.
- A staggering 994 of these hoaxes were recorded in the year 2024 alone (as of mid-November).
- The month of October 2024 witnessed a particularly high number, with 680 hoax calls recorded.
- During this period, IndiGo received the highest number of hoax calls (197), followed closely by Air India (191), Vistara (151), Akasa Air (67), and SpiceJet (29).