A Bengaluru-Lucknow IndiGo flight was forced to return to the Kempegowda International Airport after a handwritten note threatening a hijack was found inside the aircraft’s lavatory. Ignore and see the consequences.” The flight, 6E451, which took off from Bengaluru at 5:50 pm with 178 passengers on board, was mid-air when a passenger spotted the note in the toilet. It said, “This plane is going to get hijacked exactly at 06:30.
The passenger alerted the crew; the pilot informed Air Traffic Control (ATC) and returned the aircraft to Bengaluru as a precautionary measure. IndiGo issued a press statement that read, “In line with Standard Operating Procedure, the relevant authorities were informed immediately and the pilots decided to return to origin to carry out the necessary security checks, as per protocol… We regret the inconvenience caused to our customers and are making all efforts to minimise it, including offering them refreshments and sharing regular updates,” it added. Ignore this and see the consequences. It was found by a passenger who alerted the cabin crew.
A full emergency was declared at the airport (Terminal 1) in Bengaluru due to the hijack scare. After landing, all 178 passengers were deboarded, and security personnel conducted thorough checks of the aircraft. Earlier reporting noted: “The piece of paper carried the message, ‘This plane is going to get hijacked exactly at 6.30.
Police also questioned passengers as investigators suspected that the note may have been planted by someone on board, sources told NDTV. “The flight will resume its journey after receiving the requisite clearances,” said IndiGo. The crew immediately conveyed the information to the pilot, following which the aircraft returned to Bengaluru,” a senior police officer told STOI.
