Kanpur man detained over hoax bomb threat at Lucknow airport
Synopsis
A late-night hoax bomb threat call shut down Lucknow's Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport for over an hour on 25 July, triggering a full multi-agency sweep. Police traced the number to Kanpur and detained 30-year-old Shyam Sundar — but the motive behind the false alert remains under investigation.
Key Takeaways
A hoax bomb threat call was made to Dial 112 at 11:45 pm on 25 July , targeting Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow .
The bomb disposal squad , dog squad , CISF , and fire brigade conducted a full sweep between 12 am and 1 am — no explosive material was found.
Police registered a non-cognisable report (NCR) on 27 July and traced the call to Kanpur district via surveillance.
Shyam Sundar , 30, of Bidhuna area, Kanpur's Jaisinghpur , was detained and is being questioned about his motive.
The case may be upgraded to a cognisable offence depending on interrogation findings.
A hoax bomb threat call directed at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow triggered a large-scale security operation late on Friday, 25 July, with multiple agencies combing the entire premises before authorities confirmed the alert was false, officials said on Sunday, 27 July. Police have since detained Shyam Sundar, a 30-year-old resident of the Bidhuna area in Kanpur's Jaisinghpur, after tracing the mobile number used to make the call to Kanpur district.
How the Alert Unfolded
The threat was reported through a call made to Dial 112 at approximately 11:45 pm on Friday night. The call set off an immediate mobilisation of emergency and security forces at the airport. Teams from the bomb disposal squad, dog squad, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and the fire brigade rushed to the site and launched a comprehensive search.
The sweep covered the entire airport complex, including the cargo terminal and all entry gates. Security personnel also carried out detailed checks of passengers and their baggage between 12 am and 1 am as a precautionary measure. Despite the intensive hour-long operation, no suspicious object or explosive material was found anywhere on the premises.
Suspect Traced to Kanpur
When security agencies attempted to contact the caller, the mobile phone was found switched off. Authorities subsequently concluded the threat was a hoax. Police registered a non-cognisable report (NCR) at around 11 am on Sunday based on the mobile number provided by Sub-Inspector Nishu Chaudhary of Sarojini Nagar police station.
Surveillance of the number revealed its location in Kanpur district, leading a police team to detain Shyam Sundar. He is currently being questioned to establish the motive behind the false threat and the circumstances in which the call was made.
Pattern of Airport Hoax Threats
This incident is part of a broader pattern of hoax bomb threats targeting Indian airports that has drawn increasing scrutiny from aviation security authorities. Such calls, even when quickly debunked, force costly emergency mobilisations and disrupt passenger operations. Notably, making a false bomb threat call is a criminal offence under Indian law, carrying potential imprisonment.
What Happens Next
Police are expected to upgrade the case to a cognisable offence depending on findings from the ongoing interrogation of Shyam Sundar. The outcome of questioning is likely to determine whether additional suspects were involved and what prompted the call. Airport authorities have confirmed that normal operations were not disrupted beyond the security sweep window.
Point of View
And this case underscores the enforcement gap: the initial NCR registration — rather than an immediate FIR — reflects procedural caution but also a lag in treating false threat calls with the urgency they warrant. The fact that the caller's phone was switched off and the number still traced within roughly 36 hours points to improving surveillance capability, but the motive question matters. If this was a prank, it signals that deterrence is weak; if it was a deliberate disruption attempt, the NCR may need to be converted swiftly. Aviation security authorities should be watching whether the case results in a meaningful prosecution — or quietly fades.
NationPress
26 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Lucknow airport on 25 July 2025?
A hoax bomb threat call was made to Dial 112 at around 11:45 pm on 25 July, prompting a full security sweep of Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow. Multiple agencies, including the bomb disposal squad, dog squad, CISF, and fire brigade, searched the premises for over an hour before confirming no explosive material was present.
Who was detained in connection with the Lucknow airport bomb threat?
Police detained Shyam Sundar, a 30-year-old resident of the Bidhuna area in Kanpur's Jaisinghpur, after tracing the mobile number used to make the threat call to Kanpur district through surveillance. He is currently being questioned to establish his motive.
Was any bomb or explosive found at Lucknow airport?
No. Despite an intensive search covering the entire airport complex — including the cargo terminal, all entry gates, and passenger baggage — no suspicious object or explosive material was found anywhere on the premises.
What legal action has been taken after the hoax call?
Police registered a non-cognisable report (NCR) at around 11 am on Sunday, 27 July, based on the mobile number provided by Sub-Inspector Nishu Chaudhary of Sarojini Nagar police station. The case may be upgraded to a cognisable offence depending on the outcome of Shyam Sundar's interrogation.
Why are hoax bomb threats at airports taken so seriously?
Even unverified threats require a full emergency response to rule out genuine danger, forcing costly mobilisations of security agencies and causing disruption to passengers. Under Indian law, making a false bomb threat is a criminal offence that can attract imprisonment, reflecting the severity with which such calls are treated.
