Bomb threat note on IndiGo flight 6E-6423 triggers security scare at Bengaluru airport
Synopsis
A handwritten note reading 'Don't go. Bomb Hai! Please' found in the lavatory of an Ahmedabad-bound IndiGo flight 25 minutes before departure shut down operations at Bengaluru airport — the second such hoax on an IndiGo aircraft in under five weeks, exposing a glaring gap in aviation deterrence.
Key Takeaways
A hoax bomb threat note was found in the forward lavatory of IndiGo flight 6E-6423 at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport on 17 July .
The handwritten note read 'Don't go.
Please' and was discovered approximately 25 minutes before the scheduled 8 pm departure to Ahmedabad .
A full security sweep found no explosive material on board; the threat was confirmed a hoax.
IndiGo filed a formal complaint; police have registered an FIR and launched a probe to identify the perpetrator.
This is the second hoax bomb threat on an IndiGo flight in under five weeks — the previous incident occurred on 12 June on a Lucknow–Delhi flight carrying around 180 passengers .
A hoax bomb threat discovered inside the lavatory of IndiGo flight 6E-6423 triggered a major security scare at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport on Thursday, 17 July, prompting authorities to conduct a full security sweep and police to register an FIR. The Ahmedabad-bound aircraft was cleared after no explosive material was found.
How the Threat Was Discovered
The alarm was raised approximately 25 minutes before the scheduled 8 pm departure, when a handwritten note reading 'Don't go. Bomb Hai! Please' was found tucked inside the aircraft's forward lavatory. Airport authorities and security personnel immediately activated standard safety protocols upon being informed of the discovery.
The aircraft was subjected to a thorough inspection by security agencies. No suspicious object or explosive material was recovered during the search, confirming the threat to be a hoax.
FIR Registered, Probe Underway
IndiGo subsequently filed a formal complaint with the airport police, stating that the false threat had caused significant operational disruption and raised serious safety concerns for passengers and crew. Based on the airline's complaint, police registered an FIR and launched an investigation to identify the individual responsible for planting the note and to determine the motive behind the act.
A Recurring Pattern of Hoax Threats
This incident is part of a troubling pattern of hoax bomb threats targeting Indian commercial aviation. Last month, on 12 June, another IndiGo flight — carrying approximately 180 passengers from Lucknow to Delhi — was grounded after the word 'bomb' was found written on a tissue paper inside one of the aircraft's lavatories. That flight, scheduled to depart at 10:45 am, was halted at the apron and prevented from taking off as security agencies initiated emergency procedures.
Notably, this is the second such hoax threat on an IndiGo aircraft within roughly five weeks, raising questions about the adequacy of deterrence measures currently in place for aviation security in India.
What Happens Next
Investigators are working to trace the authorship of the handwritten note through forensic and surveillance evidence. Under Indian law, making a false bomb threat to an aircraft is a cognisable and non-bailable offence. Aviation security agencies are expected to review protocols at Kempegowda International Airport in light of the incident.
Point of View
The frequency of such incidents will only rise. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security needs to move beyond reactive FIRs and mandate a structural review of cabin-access checks before this escalates to a genuine threat being dismissed as another hoax.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on IndiGo flight 6E-6423 at Bengaluru airport?
A handwritten note reading 'Don't go. Bomb Hai! Please' was found inside the forward lavatory of IndiGo flight 6E-6423, bound for Ahmedabad, approximately 25 minutes before its scheduled 8 pm departure on 17 July. A security sweep confirmed no explosive material was present, and the threat was declared a hoax.
Has an FIR been registered in the Bengaluru IndiGo bomb threat case?
Yes. IndiGo filed a formal complaint with the airport police, following which an FIR was registered. Investigators are now working to identify the person responsible for leaving the note and determine the motive.
Is this the first hoax bomb threat on an IndiGo flight?
No. On 12 June, another IndiGo flight carrying around 180 passengers from Lucknow to Delhi was grounded after the word 'bomb' was found written on a tissue paper inside an aircraft lavatory. The Bengaluru incident is the second such hoax on IndiGo within roughly five weeks.
What are the legal consequences of making a false bomb threat to an aircraft in India?
Under Indian law, making a false bomb threat targeting an aircraft is a cognisable and non-bailable offence, meaning police can arrest the accused without a warrant and bail is not automatic. Convicted individuals face significant prison terms.
What security measures were activated at Bengaluru airport after the threat?
Airport authorities and security personnel immediately activated standard safety protocols, subjected the aircraft to a thorough inspection, and cleared it only after confirming no suspicious object or explosive material was on board. Aviation security agencies are expected to review protocols at Kempegowda International Airport in light of the incident.
