Bengaluru: A handwritten note threatening to hijack an IndiGo flight from Bengaluru to Lucknow triggered a security scare Saturday evening, forcing the aircraft to return to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).
The note was discovered around 30 minutes after flight 6E451, carrying 178 passengers, took off from KIA at 5.50pm, according to sources. “The piece of paper carried the message, ‘This plane is going to get hijacked exactly at 6.30.
The crew immediately conveyed the information to the pilot, following which the aircraft returned to Bengaluru,” a senior police officer told STOI. A passenger who entered the toilet spotted the threat and alerted the cabin crew. Ignore this and see the consequences. It was found by a passenger who alerted the cabin crew.
After the aircraft landed, security personnel conducted a thorough search that lasted around 90 minutes. An IndiGo spokesperson said, “A security threat was reported onboard Lucknow-bound IndiGo flight 6E 451. We regret the inconvenience caused to our customers and are making all efforts to minimise it, including offering them refreshments and sharing regular updates. ” You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Bengaluru | Silver Rate in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Petrol Price in Bengaluru | Diesel Price in Bengaluru | CNG Price in Bengaluru | LPG Price in Bengaluru Stay updated with the latest Bengaluru news.
The threat was subsequently declared a hoax, and the flight resumed its journey to Lucknow later in the night, the officer added. As per the SoP, the authorities were informed immediately and the pilots decided to return to Bengaluru to carry out the necessary security checks. Download the TOI App.