A flight bound for Hyderabad was forced to make an unscheduled landing in Mumbai on Monday after the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) received a chilling email threat of a suicide-bomb attack. The threat, which later turned out to be a hoax, caused significant disruption and triggered a high-level security response.
The Threat and Immediate Action
According to a police complaint filed by airport authorities, the security team at RGIA received two alarming emails in the early hours of December 2. The first arrived at 5:12 am, followed by a second at 7:04 am. The messages, sent from anonymised 'mail2tor' addresses, were copied to several official email IDs of GMR and Kuwait Airways.
The emails claimed that anti-social elements had planted remote-controlled explosives aboard the specific IndiGo aircraft flying from Kuwait. The senders threatened to detonate the devices upon landing in Hyderabad. They demanded that RGIA authorities divert the aircraft and evacuate terminal buildings, falsely stating that their plot was sanctioned by a 'fatwa'.
Flight Diversion and Security Scare
Upon receiving the threat, the airport security team immediately alerted all concerned authorities. The IndiGo flight, which had taken off from Kuwait at 1:31 am, was already in Indian airspace. Following standard security protocols, the decision was made to divert it away from Hyderabad.
The aircraft was safely directed to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, where it landed at 7:45 am. Mumbai airport security personnel, along with other agencies, conducted a thorough check of the aircraft, all baggage, and passengers. After a comprehensive inspection, the security staff declared the threat a hoax, finding no explosives or suspicious items.
Aftermath and Legal Action
After the all-clear was given, the airline operated another flight to ferry the passengers to their original destination. The affected travellers finally reached Hyderabad at 3:46 pm on the same day.
The RGIA police have taken the matter seriously and registered a formal case based on the complaint by GMR Airport officials. The complaint was filed by Mohammed Abdul Wasay, the General Manager of Security and Vigilance for GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL).
The case has been registered under Sections 351(4) for criminal intimidation by anonymous communication and 353(2) for statements conducing to public mischief of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Additionally, police invoked Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act for cheating by personation using computer resources. An investigation is underway to trace the origin of the threatening emails.
This incident highlights the serious consequences of hoax threats, which cause not only major operational disruptions for airlines and airports but also immense anxiety for passengers. It also underscores the robust security protocols followed by Indian aviation authorities to prioritize passenger safety above all else.
