Bomb threat note found at Kolkata airport, CISF and squad searching premises
Synopsis
A handwritten bomb threat on tissue paper found in a women's restroom at Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport has triggered a full CISF and bomb squad search — the second such scare at the same airport in October alone, and occurring at peak post-Durga Puja travel volume. Nothing suspicious has been found so far.
Key Takeaways
A bomb threat note written on tissue paper was found in the women's restroom at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata on 23 October 2026 .
The note warned of a bomb planted at Gate Number 30 ; the CISF and bomb squad are conducting an intensive search.
No suspicious object has been detected so far; flight services remain unaffected .
CCTV footage is being examined and cleaning staff who found the note are being questioned by police.
This is the second bomb scare at the airport this month — a similar email threat on 8 October also yielded nothing suspicious.
The airport was unusually crowded at the end of the Durga Puja holiday period at the time of the incident.
A bomb threat scrawled on a piece of tissue paper was discovered at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata on Friday, 23 October 2026, prompting an intensive search operation by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and a bomb disposal squad. Officials said nothing suspicious had been found as of the latest update, and flight services remain unaffected.
How the Threat Was Discovered
According to officials, cleaning staff found a handwritten note in the women's restroom inside the airport, warning that a bomb had been planted at Gate Number 30. The workers reportedly panicked and immediately alerted senior officials. Security personnel quickly cleared the crowd from the entrance in question and launched a search of the area as well as the broader airport premises.
Search Operation Under Way
The CISF and personnel from the Airport Police Station — which falls under the jurisdiction of Bidhannagar City Police in North 24 Parganas district — are conducting the search. No suspicious object has been detected so far, according to officials. Security at the airport has been visibly reinforced since the incident was reported.
Investigation in Progress
Police are currently questioning the cleaning staff who first spotted the note, and are probing who was in or near the restroom before and after the discovery. CCTV footage from the area is also being reviewed to identify any potential suspect.
Second Such Scare This Month
This is the second bomb scare at Kolkata Airport in October. On 8 October, airport authorities received a similar threat via email; a thorough search at the time turned up nothing suspicious. The back-to-back incidents come at a particularly sensitive period — the airport was reportedly more crowded than usual at the close of the Durga Puja holiday season, raising the operational stakes for security agencies. Notably, hoax bomb threats at Indian airports have been a recurring concern nationally in recent months, prompting calls for stricter penalties.
Impact on Flights and Passengers
There are no reports of any disruption to flight services so far. Authorities have not issued any travel advisory, but passengers at the airport are likely to experience enhanced security screening at various entry points as the search continues.
Point of View
Passenger disruption, and erosion of public confidence. The real question is whether the legal deterrent against filing false threats is strong enough; current penalties have clearly not discouraged repeat incidents. Authorities should also examine whether the post-Durga Puja crowd surge exposed gaps in surveillance coverage, given that the note went undetected until cleaning staff found it rather than being caught proactively.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Kolkata airport on 23 October 2026?
A handwritten bomb threat was found on a piece of tissue paper in the women's restroom at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata on 23 October 2026. The note warned of a bomb at Gate Number 30, prompting a search by the CISF and bomb disposal squad.
Was anything suspicious found at Kolkata airport?
No. As of the latest update, neither the CISF troopers nor Airport Police Station personnel had found any suspicious object during the ongoing search of the premises.
Are flights affected by the Kolkata airport bomb scare?
No flight disruptions have been reported so far. Authorities have not issued any travel advisory, though security has been visibly reinforced across the airport premises.
Is this the first bomb threat at Kolkata airport recently?
No, this is the second such incident in October 2026. On 8 October, airport authorities received a similar threat via email; a full search at the time found nothing suspicious.
Who is investigating the Kolkata airport bomb threat?
The CISF and the Airport Police Station — under the jurisdiction of Bidhannagar City Police in North 24 Parganas district — are conducting the search and investigation. Police are questioning cleaning staff who found the note and are reviewing CCTV footage to identify the person responsible.
