An IndiGo flight traveling from Kuwait and bound for Hyderabad, Telangana, was swiftly diverted to Mumbai on Tuesday morning after a severe bomb threat was received.
The threat, which specifically warned of a ‘human bomb’ onboard the aircraft, was sent via email and was reportedly received by authorities at the Delhi airport.
Emergency Protocol Activated
The aircraft, an Airbus A321-251NX operating under the callsign 6E1234, departed Kuwait at 1:56 AM and executed an emergency landing at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 8:10 AM.
- Response: Security teams, including emergency responders and bomb-disposal squads, were immediately placed on high alert and kept on standby for the emergency landing.
- Checks Initiated: Upon landing, the plane was safely moved to an isolation bay for thorough security checks by airport security officials. As of the time of reporting, officials are investigating the threat, and a statement from IndiGo Airlines is awaited. Early reports from authorities indicate that the aircraft has been safely landed and all passengers are secure.
Recurrence of Aviation Threats
This incident marks the second time in recent weeks that a Hyderabad-bound international flight has been targeted by a bomb threat, leading to a diversion to Mumbai:
- November 23 Incident: Just last month, the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport of Hyderabad received a bomb threat for an international flight coming from Bahrain. That aircraft was also successfully diverted to Mumbai and landed safely.
- Hoax Threat: Police officials later confirmed that the November 23 threat was determined to be a hoax after comprehensive security checking. A case was subsequently registered by the RGI airport officials based on a complaint filed regarding the malicious threat email.
The consistent targeting of Hyderabad-bound flights suggests a concerted effort to disrupt aviation security, although official confirmation on the nature of Tuesday’s threat is still pending the outcome of the security checks.