Air India Express bomb threat: 40 evacuated after note found on Dammam-Delhi flight
Synopsis
A handwritten note reading 'Bomb RED 4:30' found in an aircraft lavatory forced Air India Express flight IX-170 off its Dammam-Delhi route and into Ahmedabad, where all 40 aboard were evacuated and screened. No suspicious object was found — but the incident adds to a growing pattern of bomb hoaxes targeting Indian commercial aviation.
Key Takeaways
Air India Express flight IX-170 from Dammam to Delhi was diverted to Ahmedabad on 31 August after a bomb threat note was found in the aircraft bathroom.
The tissue paper bore the words 'Bomb RED 4:30' in English, along with a drawing of a bag, and was discovered by the First Officer .
All 40 people aboard — 32 passengers and 8 crew members — were evacuated and frisked at Terminal 2 of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) found no suspicious object as of the time of reporting.
A formal offence is being registered and interrogation of passengers and crew is underway.
The flight is expected to resume its journey to Delhi once security clearance is granted.
An Air India Express flight travelling from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, to Delhi was diverted to Ahmedabad on Monday, 31 August after the First Officer discovered a handwritten bomb threat on a tissue paper inside the aircraft's bathroom. A total of 40 people — 32 passengers and eight crew members — were safely evacuated and frisked at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, officials confirmed.
How the Threat Was Discovered
The Operation Control Centre alerted airport authorities at approximately 2:40 pm IST that flight IX-170, which had departed Dammam at 10:25 am, was being diverted to Ahmedabad. The trigger was a tissue paper found in the aircraft lavatory bearing the words 'Bomb RED 4:30' in English, accompanied by a drawing of a bag.
The aircraft touched down at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 4:27 pm and was parked on the Terminal 2 taxiway as security agencies initiated prescribed emergency protocols.
Evacuation and Security Response
Police Inspector A.D. Chavda, along with police personnel, reached Terminal 2 to oversee the operation. The 32 passengers and eight crew members — comprising four cockpit crew and four cabin crew — were brought out of the aircraft and subjected to physical frisking. The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) subsequently conducted checks on all individuals and the aircraft.
According to police, no suspicious object had been found as of the time of reporting. The aircraft was moved to an isolated area of the airport while checks continued. Airport authorities also initiated sanitation procedures as part of the standard threat-response protocol.
Investigation Underway
Interrogation of passengers and crew was underway, with investigators working to trace the origin of the threat note. Police confirmed that the process of registering a formal offence in connection with the incident was also initiated.
The flight was expected to be cleared for onward departure to Delhi once all security checks and investigative procedures were completed.
Rising Trend of Aviation Bomb Threats in India
This incident is the latest in a series of bomb threat calls and notes targeting Indian commercial flights in recent months, prompting aviation security agencies to tighten protocols. Hoax threats carry serious legal consequences under Indian aviation and criminal law, and authorities have repeatedly warned that such acts disrupt operations, endanger passengers, and attract stringent prosecution. The frequency of such incidents has drawn scrutiny from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).
Point of View
Another bomb threat grounding an Indian commercial flight — and the pattern is becoming impossible to ignore. The IX-170 incident fits a template now seen repeatedly: a handwritten note, a diversion, hours of disruption, and ultimately no device found. What is missing from the public response is a credible deterrent. Prosecution rates for aviation hoax threats in India remain low, and until perpetrators face swift, publicised consequences, the disruptions will continue. The BCAS needs to go beyond tightening protocols and push for fast-track legal action that makes the cost of a hoax threat unmistakably clear.
NationPress
31 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on Air India Express flight IX-170 on 31 August?
Flight IX-170, operating from Dammam to Delhi, was diverted to Ahmedabad after the First Officer found a tissue paper in the aircraft's bathroom with the words 'Bomb RED 4:30' and a drawing of a bag. All 40 people aboard were evacuated and screened; no suspicious object was found.
Where was the bomb threat note found on the Air India Express flight?
The threat note was written on a tissue paper discovered inside the aircraft's bathroom by the First Officer during the flight. It read 'Bomb RED 4:30' in English and included a sketch of a bag.
How many passengers and crew were on board flight IX-170?
There were 32 passengers and 8 crew members — four cockpit crew and four cabin crew — totalling 40 people. All were safely evacuated and frisked at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad.
Was any bomb or suspicious object found on the Air India Express flight?
No. The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) conducted checks on all passengers, crew, and the aircraft, and no suspicious object had been found as of the time of reporting.
What action is being taken against those responsible for the bomb threat?
Police have initiated the process of registering a formal offence. Interrogation of passengers and crew is underway, and investigators are working to trace the origin of the threat note. The flight was to be cleared for departure to Delhi once all checks were completed.
