Bomb scare: Threat email targets Delhi airport, 4 others; AI Express flight evacuated

Dubai: A bomb threat email sent to IndiGo’s grievance portal on Wednesday triggered a high-alert security response at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) before being declared a hoax, officials said.

The message mentioned multiple airports — including those in Delhi, Chennai, Goa, Mumbai, and Hyderabad — prompting precautionary checks across all locations.

According to the Delhi Police, the email was flagged around 4 p.m., leading to a coordinated response by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Delhi Fire Service, and airport authorities.

“A call was received at 4 p.m. regarding a bomb being found at Delhi Airport Terminal 3. However, after investigation, the threat was found to be a hoax,” a fire department official said.

Police said IndiGo’s internal system first detected the message on its grievance portal, following which security teams were alerted.

“Precautionary checks were carried out at all the mentioned airports,” the Delhi Police said in a statement.

The hoax email coincided with a separate mid-air security scare involving Air India Express flight IX 1023 from Mumbai to Varanasi, which received a bomb threat while airborne.

The aircraft made an emergency landing at Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, where all passengers were safely evacuated.

“In line with protocol, the Government-appointed Bomb Threat Assessment Committee was immediately alerted, and all necessary security procedures were promptly initiated,” Air India Express said. “The flight landed safely, all passengers were disembarked, and the aircraft will be released once security checks are completed.”