'Plane will be hijacked at 6.30': IndiGo flight rushes back to Bengaluru after threat note

A routine flight from Bengaluru to Lucknow turned into a security scare on Saturday after a handwritten note threatening to hijack the aircraft was discovered inside one of its toilets.

The threat prompted the pilots to abandon the flight and return to Bengaluru as a precaution.

The IndiGo flight, operating as 6E 451, was carrying 178 passengers when the incident came to light on November 7.

The aircraft took off from Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport at around 5.50 pm and was about 30 minutes into its journey when the alarming discovery was made.

According to reports, a passenger who entered the aircraft's toilet noticed a handwritten message warning of a possible hijacking.

The note reportedly mentioned a specific time, 6.30 pm, and threatened consequences if the warning was ignored.

The passenger immediately alerted the cabin crew, who relayed the information to the cockpit. The pilots subsequently contacted Air Traffic Control (ATC) and decided to turn the aircraft around rather than continue towards Lucknow.

IndiGo flight returns to Bengaluru, security agencies swing into action

After the alert, ATC directed the aircraft back to Bengaluru.

Airport authorities reportedly declared a full emergency at Terminal 1 of Kempegowda International Airport and initiated emergency security procedures.

After landing, authorities safely deboarded all 178 passengers. Security personnel, along with other relevant agencies, conducted an extensive inspection of the aircraft to rule out any threat.

The security operation reportedly lasted about 90 minutes. Investigators examined the aircraft and questioned passengers as part of the verification process.

Authorities eventually declared the threat a hoax after checks found no suspicious objects or evidence of an attempted hijacking.

The aircraft was subsequently cleared to continue its journey to Lucknow.

IndiGo issues statement after hijack threat scare

Confirming the incident, an IndiGo spokesperson said the airline received a security-related alert onboard flight 6E 451 on November 7. The airline said the pilots followed established safety procedures and returned to Bengaluru after informing the relevant authorities.

The airline also apologized to passengers for the disruption and said it arranged refreshments and regular updates during the delay.

While the threat was ultimately a hoax, the incident once again highlighted the security protocols airlines and airport authorities follow when they discover suspicious messages onboard aircraft.

For the passengers onboard, what began as an ordinary journey to Lucknow turned into an unexpected mid-air scare, ending with an emergency landing and extensive security checks in Bengaluru.