An IndiGo flight, designated as 6E 7308, was diverted to Nagpur on Sunday due to a bomb threat while en route from Jabalpur to Hyderabad. Upon landing, all passengers were promptly disembarked, and mandatory security checks were initiated to ensure their safety, according to an official statement from IndiGo.
The airline expressed regret over the incident, stating, “Passengers were provided with assistance and refreshments, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused.”
This incident is part of a disturbing trend of hoax bomb threats targeting airports and hospitals. Recently, on June 18, bomb threats were reported at 41 airports across India, including Jaipur, Chennai, and Varanasi. Extensive anti-sabotage checks were conducted in response, but all threats were ultimately deemed hoaxes.
Such false threats not only disrupt flight schedules but also necessitate thorough inspections of passengers, their luggage, and the aircraft itself. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has proposed a five-year flying ban for individuals found guilty of making such threats.
In a related incident on August 22, a bomb threat on an Air India flight arriving from Mumbai prompted a full emergency at Thiruvananthapuram Airport. The flight was directed to an isolation bay upon landing, and passengers were safely evacuated.
Additionally, on June 17, a 13-year-old boy was detained for allegedly sending an email to Delhi Airport falsely claiming that a bomb was planted on a Dubai-bound flight. This prompted authorities to declare an emergency at the airport.
Earlier, approximately 60 hospitals in Mumbai received hoax emails about bombs on their premises. The Mumbai police reported that these emails, which targeted both private and public hospitals, were sent using Virtual Private Networks (VPN) to obscure the sender’s identity.
As investigations into these threats continue, authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
Sources By Agencies
