Amidst the dawn’s first light, a disconcerting alert jolted the tranquility of a Delhi-Varanasi bound IndiGo flight slated for departure at 5.35 am on Monday. Passengers, startled by the urgency, were swiftly ushered onto the tarmac via emergency exits as the specter of a bomb threat loomed over the aircraft.
Authorities swiftly mobilized in response to the purported threat, only to ascertain it as a mere ruse, revealed the police. Deputy Commissioner of Police (IGI Airport) Usha Rangnani divulged that at approximately 5 a.m., a peculiar note surfaced in the lavatory of an Indigo flight earmarked for Varanasi, bearing the ominous inscription ‘bomb@5.30’.
Adhering to established security protocols, a meticulous sweep ensued, yielding no incriminating evidence, affirmed the DCP. IndiGo flight 6E2211, ferrying 176 passengers from Delhi to Varanasi, found itself ensnared in the web of a specific bomb threat, divulged airline authorities. The chilling call was intercepted at approximately 5.40 a.m., officials disclosed.
“All requisite measures were enacted, and the aircraft was promptly relocated to a secluded bay in accordance with directives issued by airport security entities. The evacuation of all passengers was executed flawlessly via designated emergency exits,” relayed a spokesperson from the airline.
Akin to a harrowing déjà vu, echoes of a prior incident on May 16 reverberated when a similar note, emblazoned with the foreboding word “bomb,” was unearthed within the confines of Air India flight AI819’s lavatory at Delhi airport. Despite invoking a security frenzy, the purported threat ultimately unraveled as a figment of paranoia.
A senior airport official, speaking to news agency ANI, detailed the aircraft’s swift relocation to an isolation bay for forensic scrutiny, with aviation security and a bomb disposal unit poised for action.
The Delhi Fire Service corroborated reports of a bomb scare aboard the early morning flight bound for Varanasi, underscoring the swift response of Quick Response Teams (QRT) who promptly descended upon the scene. With all passengers safely extricated through emergency egress points, meticulous inspections of the aircraft ensued to ensure the safety of all aboard.
