IndiGo Flight From Chennai To Mumbai Receives Bomb Threat, Emergency Declared

A bomb threat was reported aboard the Mumbai-bound IndiGo flight, designated as 6E 5314, which departed from Chennai around 7 am on Saturday and subsequently landed at Mumbai airport at approximately 8:45 am.

The airport authorities flung into action and the entire aircraft is currently undergoing thorough frisking, with a full emergency declaration in response to the bomb threat.

The flight carries a total of 172 passengers.

In a statement, IndiGo said: "IndiGo flight 6E 5314 operating from Chennai to Mumbai had received a bomb threat. Upon landing in Mumbai, the crew followed protocol and the aircraft was taken to an isolation bay as per security agency guidelines. All passengers have safely disembarked the aircraft. The aircraft is currently undergoing inspection. Post completion of all security checks, the aircraft will be positioned back in the terminal area."

The IndiGo crew discovered a note indicating the presence of a bomb in the aircraft lavatory, according to a report in CNBC.

Following protocol, the flight safely landed and passengers were deboarded at the isolation bay for security measures. This incident marks the airline's second bomb threat in less than a week.

Recently, in the early hours of Monday, Chennai Airport received threatening bomb emails alleging mistreatment of passengers by officials and warning of explosions at the airport.

The emails claimed bombs were planted at five locations, with the initial message received around 1:30 am, indicating the explosions would occur within a week. The sender criticized officials for harassing innocent people under the guise of smuggling checks and threatened to plant explosives at the airport.

The same email was forwarded again at 9 am, with the sender reportedly using the name of a senior state police official to create a fake email ID.

Following these alarming messages, the Chennai airport director called for an emergency security meeting. The bomb squad conducted extensive searches, and security measures were heightened throughout the airport. Additionally, airport police and CISF were put on high alert since Sunday evening.

On May 28, an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Varanasi faced a similar threat. In that instance, all passengers aboard flight 6E2211 were safely evacuated through emergency doors, the airline confirmed in a statement. The aircraft was then moved to a remote bay as per security guidelines. The flight accommodated 174 adults and two children.