An IndiGo flight carrying 178 passengers from Bengaluru to Lucknow returned to Kempegowda International Airport after crew members found a handwritten hijack threat inside the aircraft’s lavatory shortly after take-off, according to a report by Prajavani – Bengaluru.
The flight, 6E-451, departed from the airport at around 5.50 pm on Saturday. The note reportedly stated that the aircraft would be hijacked at exactly 6.30 pm. After the message was found, the cabin crew alerted the pilot, who informed air traffic control and decided to return the aircraft to Bengaluru for security checks.
The aircraft landed back at Kempegowda International Airport, where all 178 passengers were asked to disembark. Security personnel searched the passengers and carried out a detailed inspection of the aircraft, the report said. The incident caused temporary concern among passengers and airport security staff.
The report said investigators suspect that the note may have been written and left inside the lavatory by one of the passengers. Police from the Kempegowda Airport police station were questioning passengers in connection with the incident.
IndiGo confirmed that a hijack threat letter had been found on flight 6E-451. The airline said it followed the required security procedures and immediately informed the relevant authorities in line with established operational protocols. The aircraft was to depart for Lucknow only after receiving clearance from the authorities and completing the necessary security checks.
The airline said passenger safety remained its priority and apologised for the inconvenience caused by the return to Bengaluru. It also arranged food and beverages for passengers and said they would be kept informed about further developments. The report did not state when the flight eventually received clearance to continue its journey.
