An IndiGo ATR 72 turboprop flying between Jabalpur (JLR) and Hyderabad (HYD) was forced to make an emergency landing in Nagpur (NAG) on Sunday after a bomb threat note was found in the aircraft’s lavatory. The note, reportedly scribbled on a piece of toilet paper, contained the words “Blast 9.00 am,” prompting the pilots to divert the flight as a precautionary measure.
The flight, operating as E67308, had taken off from Jabalpur Airport and was en route to Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport when the threat was discovered. The aircraft, registered as VT-IRL, made an emergency landing at Nagpur Airport, where all passengers were safely disembarked.
IndiGo confirmed the incident, stating, “Flight 6E 7308, en route from Jabalpur to Hyderabad, was diverted to Nagpur following a bomb threat. Upon landing, all passengers were safely disembarked, and the necessary security checks were promptly carried out. Assistance and refreshments were provided to all passengers, and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
Security personnel conducted thorough checks of the passengers and their baggage, but no explosives were found. Indian police authorities have since launched an investigation into the bomb threat, which was later determined to be a hoax.
This incident marks the third false bomb threat targeting an IndiGo flight within three months. Similar threats occurred on May 28 and June 1, 2024, involving flights from Delhi to Varanasi and from Chennai to Mumbai, respectively. In both cases, no explosives were found, and the threats were deemed hoaxes.
IndiGo, which operates a fleet of 45 ATR 72-600s, has not indicated whether the flight was fully booked at the time of the incident. The ATR 72-600 can accommodate up to 78 passengers. As authorities continue their investigation, the airline is working to ensure the safety and security of its passengers amid these recurrent threats.
