Security was heightened across major Indian airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata, on Wednesday after IndiGo and Air India received bomb threat emails. The alerts came just two days after the Red Fort explosion in Delhi, which killed 12 people and injured several others.
According to officials, an email warning of a bomb at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (Terminal 3) prompted an immediate emergency response by airport authorities and the Delhi Fire Brigade around 4 PM. The site was quickly evacuated and inspected by bomb disposal teams, but the threat was later confirmed to be a hoax.
Nationwide Alert Following Threat
The email triggered widespread alarm, leading to security being tightened at key airports across the country — including those in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Goa, and Kolkata.
“After the email alert, precautionary searches and checks were conducted across all major airports,” said a senior Delhi Police officer.
Officials confirmed that security agencies and CISF personnel have been instructed to maintain maximum vigilance, especially around baggage screening and terminal access points.
IndiGo and Air India Flights Targeted
Budget carrier IndiGo reported receiving the bomb threat through its official grievance portal, mentioning multiple airports. The airline immediately coordinated with local police and airport security for verification.
In a separate incident, Air India said one of its flights to Varanasi received a similar threat.
“In line with protocol, the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee was immediately alerted and all necessary security checks were initiated. The flight landed safely, and passengers were safely disembarked,” said an Air India spokesperson.
Authorities added that the aircraft was thoroughly inspected before being cleared for further operations.
Red Fort Blast Context
The heightened alert comes amid ongoing investigations into Monday’s Red Fort car explosion, which killed at least 12 people and injured 20 others. Security agencies are probing possible links between the blast and subsequent threats, though no direct connection has been established yet.
Security Measures Intensified
Following the incidents, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) issued directives for enhanced monitoring at passenger terminals, baggage areas, and parking zones. Random checks and canine patrols have also been increased.
“Though both threats were found to be false alarms, precautionary measures will remain in place until further notice,” a senior aviation security official said.
Authorities have also launched a cyber-forensics investigation to trace the origin of the hoax emails sent to the airlines.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
