A Nagpur-Kolkata IndiGo flight with 187 passengers and six crew members onboard made an emergency landing at Raipur airport on Thursday (November 14) following a bomb threat, sparking a major security response. The aircraft, which was en route to Kolkata, was directed to land at Raipur after authorities received information about a possible explosive onboard. Upon landing, the plane was promptly evacuated, and security teams, including bomb disposal squads, were deployed to thoroughly inspect the aircraft, reports ANI.
“A flight from Nagpur to Kolkata made an emergency landing at Raipur airport following a bomb threat. The plane is being checked at the airport and further probe is underway: Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) Kirtan Rathore,” ANI said in a post on X.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural), Kirtan Rathore, confirmed that a comprehensive security sweep of the plane was underway at Raipur airport, with further investigation being conducted to assess the validity of the threat. Senior Superintendent of Police, Santosh Singh, echoed the statement, adding that authorities were treating the matter with high caution to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew. The plane landed at the airport around 9 am and was immediately taken to the isolation bay for mandatory security checks.
In response to the rise in bomb threats targeting flights, the Ministry of Civil Aviation is actively working on measures to counter such disruptions. Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, has emphasized the ministry’s commitment to bolstering security protocols and considering legislative amendments to deter hoax threats that disrupt aviation services. Law enforcement agencies are also investigating to identify those responsible for instigating such incidents, which have become a growing concern for passenger safety and flight operations.
As investigations continue, the aviation ministry and police are expected to increase vigilance and security checks to address this ongoing issue.