An international IndiGo Airlines flight traveling from Madinah, Saudi Arabia to Hyderabad, India was urgently diverted to Ahmedabad on Thursday following a credible bomb threat received via email. The aircraft landed safely at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport approximately at 12:30 PM local time, where all passengers and crew were immediately evacuated as a standard security precaution.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Atul Bansal, the flight diversion occurred mid-route after the airline received specific threat information indicating explosive devices had been planted aboard the aircraft. Ahmedabad was selected as the emergency landing site as it represented the nearest available airport at the time of the threat assessment.
Indian authorities initiated comprehensive security protocols upon landing, including a thorough sweep of the aircraft by specialized bomb detection and disposal teams. The incident comes amid operational challenges for IndiGo, which has recently experienced significant flight disruptions due to crew rostering issues, though authorities confirm this security incident is unrelated to those internal logistical matters.
Aviation security experts emphasize that such threats, whether hoax or credible, trigger immediate response protocols under international aviation security conventions. The incident highlights continuing security challenges facing commercial aviation and the sophisticated response mechanisms now standard across international airports.