IndiGo Flight Diverted After Bomb Threat, Later Found to Be a Hoax
Indigo received a bomb threat: On Tuesday night, a Delhi-bound IndiGo flight from Mumbai was diverted to Ahmedabad following a bomb threat, which was later confirmed to be a hoax. The aircraft, carrying nearly 200 passengers and crew members, made an emergency landing, and all passengers were safely disembarked. After a thorough overnight search, no suspicious items were found. This marks the 12th bomb threat incident in the past two days.
Emergency Response and Investigation
The threat was issued via a tweet from an unknown individual shortly after the flight departed from Mumbai. Mumbai Air Traffic Control (ATC) quickly informed the pilots, leading them to reroute the plane to Ahmedabad, the closest airport. After landing, the aircraft was isolated, and security agencies carried out a thorough overnight inspection but found no suspicious items. The flight continued its journey to Delhi the next morning at 8 am.
IndiGo, in a statement, confirmed that flight 6E 651 was redirected due to a "security-related alert." The airline assured that standard operating procedures were followed and apologized for any inconvenience, stressing that passenger and crew safety remains a top priority.
Growing Number of Bomb Threats on Flights
This hoax bomb threat is part of a troubling trend. On Wednesday, an Akasa Air flight from New Delhi to Bengaluru returned to the capital after receiving a similar threat. Additionally, three international flights from Mumbai were targeted by bomb threats earlier in the week, leading to flight diversions and delays.
In response to the growing number of such threats, the central government has decided to increase security measures. Specifically, they will double the number of Sky Marshals on flights originating from airports across India.
The Role of Sky Marshals in Flight Security
Sky Marshals, or flight marshals, are armed plainclothes security officers who travel on passenger aircraft to prevent potential threats, including hijackings. Introduced in India in 1999 after the hijacking of Air India flight IC 814, they are trained to take immediate action in the event of a security threat.
A senior official from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) confirmed that the decision to increase the number of Sky Marshals was made following an assessment of the rising threats, based on inputs from intelligence agencies. The government aims to strengthen flight security and prevent further disruptions caused by bomb threats.
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With these new measures, authorities hope to enhance the safety and security of passengers and ensure that flights across the country operate smoothly without fear of such incidents.
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