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New Delhi: What began as a routine Sunday morning flight from Delhi to Bagdogra turned into a mid-air crisis on Sunday, as an IndiGo Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Lucknow following a chilling discovery in the aircraft's lavatory.
A threat was written on a piece of tissue paper
The security scare was triggered when a message claiming a bomb was on board was found written on a piece of tissue paper inside one of the aircraft’s toilets. The crew of Flight 6E-6650 immediately alerted Air Traffic Control (ATC) at approximately 8:46 AM, initiating emergency protocols while the plane was still en route to its destination in West Bengal.
Flight diverted to Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow
The aircraft, carrying a total of 230 passengers, comprising 222 adults and 8 infants, along with two pilots and five crew members, was diverted to Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow. The plane touched down safely at 9:17 AM, just 31 minutes after the threat was first reported.
Aircraft escorted to a designated isolation bay
Upon landing, the aircraft was immediately escorted to a designated isolation bay, far from the main terminal. Security personnel, including the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS), swarmed the scene.
ACP Rajneesh Verma confirmed that all 237 onboard passengers on board were evacuated and subjected to rigorous security screening. "The aircraft is currently being searched, and a comprehensive sweep of the airport is underway," Verma stated.
Investigation underway
As of Sunday afternoon, the aircraft remains grounded while investigators conduct a forensic search of the cabin and cargo hold. Authorities are working to identify who may have left the note in the lavatory, as the hoax or threat caused massive disruption to the flight schedule and sent waves of panic through the passengers.
No explosives have been reported found as the investigation continues into the source of the tissue-paper threat.
