Bomb Threat Forces Emergency Landing of IndiGo Flight in Mumbai

Mumbai, 1st June 2024: MUMBAI: An IndiGo flight originating from Chennai, carrying 172 passengers and crew members, underwent an emergency landing in Mumbai on Saturday due to a bomb threat directed at the aircraft.

This marks the second occurrence of a bomb threat to an IndiGo flight within a week, with the previous incident taking place on May 28 on a flight bound from Delhi to Varanasi.

According to sources, flight 6E-5314 landed safely in Mumbai at 8:45 am. Departing Chennai at approximately 6:50 am, the flight was en route to its destination when the bomb threat was received. “An unclaimed remote was discovered on board the aircraft,” a source revealed. The pilots promptly informed Mumbai air traffic control and requested an emergency landing. Subsequently, a full-scale emergency response was activated, with fire tenders and ambulances on standby as the aircraft safely touched down. Following the landing, the aircraft was directed to an isolated bay for thorough security checks related to the bomb scare, after which passengers disembarked.

IndiGo issued a statement confirming the incident: “IndiGo flight 6E 5314 operating from Chennai to Mumbai received a bomb threat. Upon landing in Mumbai, the crew followed protocol, and the aircraft was taken to an isolation bay as per security agency guidelines. All passengers have safely disembarked the aircraft. The aircraft is currently undergoing inspection. Post completion of all security checks, the aircraft will be positioned back in the terminal area.”

In the previous week’s incident, an IndiGo flight bound for Varanasi from Delhi, carrying 176 passengers, was similarly subjected to a bomb threat. In response, passengers were evacuated through emergency exits at the Delhi airport. Video footage of the evacuation depicted passengers, including flight crew, utilizing the slides with their cabin baggage, contrary to safety regulations stipulating that cabin baggage should be left behind during the evacuation. Additionally, passengers are advised to discard items and remove footwear like stilettos to prevent damage to the inflatable slides. After the Delhi incident, IndiGo took disciplinary action against two pilots and cabin crew members for non-compliance with standard evacuation procedures.