Operations at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport were thrown into disarray on the night of 16 July after cabin crew on IndiGo flight 6E-6423 discovered a handwritten note in the lavatory claiming that a bomb was on board. Security agencies evacuated 185 passengers, towed the aircraft to an isolation bay and conducted a full explosives sweep; no device was found. Normal operations resumed after a five-hour shutdown, but at least 27 domestic departures and 11 international connections were delayed or missed as a result. The Bengaluru airport incident is the third hoax threat targeting Indian airports in the past two months, underscoring the operational vulnerability created by even low-credibility alerts. Airlines bear the direct cost of fuel burn, crew-duty extensions and passenger re-accommodation, while airport operators face cascading congestion. Police have registered an FIR under the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation Act and are examining CCTV footage to identify the culprit. Authorities are also reviewing standard-operating procedures to reduce response time without compromising safety. For global mobility managers, the episode is a reminder to build contingency buffers into tight itineraries—especially when planning same-day onward connections for relocating staff or visiting executives through Indian hubs. Travellers should monitor airline apps and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) advisories for real-time updates.
Source: The Print / PTI
