Bomb scare delays Pune-Guwahati flight, security check finds nothing suspicious

Pune: A chit bearing the word ‘BOMB’ was found inside the lavatory of a Pune-Guwahati flight on Friday morning, triggering panic among passengers and prompting a security response from airport authorities. However, a thorough search of the aircraft did not reveal any suspicious object.

A security officer of the private airline, Vishalkumar Shrivastav (30), later lodged a complaint with the Airport police. Based on the complaint, the police registered a case against an unidentified person for leaving the chit in the aircraft lavatory.

“A security threat was noticed shortly before take-off onboard IndiGo flight 6E 623, scheduled to operate from Pune to Guwahati, Assam, on May 29. Following the established protocol, we informed the relevant authorities immediately and cooperated with them in carrying out the necessary security checks. We regret the inconvenience caused to our customers. As always, the safety and security of our customers, crew and aircraft remain our topmost priorities,” an IndiGo spokesperson told TOI.

According to the police, all passengers had boarded the flight and the aircraft had started moving towards the taxiway when an air hostess entered the lavatory and found the chit with the word ‘BOMB’ written on it. She immediately raised an alarm, following which the flight crew informed the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

The aircraft was subsequently moved to an isolation bay, and all passengers were safely deboarded. Teams from the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), along with airline officials, conducted a comprehensive search of the aircraft but found nothing suspicious. Police said there are no CCTV cameras inside the lavatory, making it difficult to identify the person who left the note.

After security clearance was granted, the flight departed from Pune Airport later in the morning.