Bengaluru: A handwritten note threatening to hijack an IndiGo flight from Bengaluru to Lucknow triggered a security scare Saturday evening, forcing the aircraft to return to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).According to sources, the note was discovered around 30 minutes after flight 6E451, carrying 178 passengers, took off from KIA at 5.50pm. A passenger who entered the toilet spotted the threat and alerted the cabin crew.“The piece of paper carried the message, ‘This plane is going to get hijacked exactly at 6.30. Ignore this and see the consequences.’ It was found by a passenger who alerted the cabin crew. The crew immediately conveyed the information to the pilot, following which the aircraft returned to Bengaluru,” a senior police officer told STOI.After the aircraft landed, security personnel conducted a thorough search that lasted around 90 minutes. The threat was subsequently declared a hoax, and the flight resumed its journey to Lucknow later in the night, the officer added.An IndiGo spokesperson said, “A security threat was reported onboard Lucknow-bound IndiGo flight 6E 451. As per the SoP, the authorities were informed immediately and the pilots decided to return to Bengaluru to carry out the necessary security checks. We regret the inconvenience caused to our customers and are making all efforts to minimise it, including offering them refreshments and sharing regular updates.”
