A tissue paper carrying the message “Boom 1.50 pm” triggered a bomb scare on a Chennai-bound IndiGo flight on Friday, prompting a priority landing at Chennai airport and a full security search before authorities declared the threat a hoax.
The flight, carrying 192 passengers, had departed from Hyderabad around noon. A crew member found the tissue paper stuck to the mirror inside the aircraft’s lavatory and alerted the pilot. The pilot then contacted the air traffic controller at Chennai airport, requested a priority landing and conveyed the bomb threat message.
Chennai airport authorities activated security arrangements under their standard operating procedures after receiving the alert. The flight landed at around 1 pm and was moved to a remote bay, separating it from normal airport operations while security teams assessed the threat.
Security personnel entered the aircraft with sniffer dogs and conducted a detailed search. Passengers and their luggage were checked, while the aircraft itself was screened for any explosive device or other threat. The search and questioning process continued for about an hour.
After completing the checks, security personnel declared the threat a hoax. Passengers were then allowed to leave the airport. The incident nevertheless caused tension at Chennai airport and required the coordinated response of the flight crew, air traffic control, airport authorities and security personnel.
A formal complaint was lodged at the airport police station following the incident. The report did not identify the person who wrote the message or indicate whether any arrest had been made. The police complaint is the next formal step in determining how the tissue paper was placed inside the aircraft lavatory and who was responsible for the hoax threat.
