When an IndiGo flight from Kuwait to Hyderabad received an email warning of an explosive device on Tuesday (December 2, 2025) morning, the aircraft was immediately diverted to Mumbai as a precaution. Though the threat was later confirmed to be a hoax, the incident triggered a full-scale security drill, one that Indian airports now activate with increasing frequency.
The bomb threat was received while the aircraft was flying over the Arabian Sea, as per an official close to the investigation. Instead of proceeding to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad, where it was scheduled to land at 8.10 a.m., authorities redirected it to the first major airport upon entering Indian airspace, Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), where it touched down safely around 7.40 a.m.
A surge in threats
Such diversions are becoming common as the country witnesses an unprecedented spike in hoax bomb threats. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha on July 24, 2025, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, revealed that Indian airline operators have received 881 hoax bomb threats between 2022 and 20 July 2025.
Data from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) shows the threats rising steeply — from 13 in 2022 to 71 in 2023 and then to a staggering 728 in 2024. By July this year, 69 more had already been reported.
How an alert sets system in motion
Officials say every threat, regardless of its credibility, activates a highly structured response. The Bomb Threat Contingency Plan (BTCP), mandated by BCAS, outlines the actions to be taken by airlines, airports, security forces and law enforcement agencies.
A senior Telangana police official explained that threats typically fall into two categories: specific threats, which detail the flight number, location and timing, as seen in the email targeting IndiGo flight 6E1234; and non-specific threats, which contain vague claims such as an unspecified attack at an airport.
Once an airline or airport receives the threat, it immediately alerts all stakeholders, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), BCAS, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the airport operator concerned, airline officials and local police. A quick video conference follows, during which officials assess the threat and decide whether to divert the aircraft, isolate it on landing or initiate other emergency procedures.
“In Tuesday’s case, diversion was the safest option because the aircraft was still over the sea. Mumbai was the nearest suitable airport after it entered Indian airspace,” the police official said. “If the flight had entered through the Sri Lanka route, Chennai would have been the diversion point.”
What happens after a flight is diverted?
By the time the aircraft approaches the diversion airport, teams from the CISF, local police, Anti-Terrorism Squad, Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), dog squads and forensic units are already stationed at the designated bay.
Once the aircraft lands, passengers are deboarded and escorted to the terminal, where they undergo detailed screening using explosive detection kits, hand-held metal detectors and other equipment.
Inside the aircraft, officers in bulletproof jackets sweep every cabin, seat pocket, overhead bin and baggage hold using bomb detection devices and canine units. Forensic specialists follow to collect any suspicious traces or materials.
In Mumbai, the Airbus 321 involved in the incident was cleared by security teams at around 11.30 a.m. and moved back to the terminal, according to a source familiar with the developments. “We made all efforts to minimise inconvenience to our customers, including providing refreshments and sharing regular updates,” an IndiGo spokesperson said.
Such operations typically involve at least 50-60 personnel, around 20-30 from the CISF and 15-20 from local police, along with technicians, canine handlers and forensic staff, said the official.
Published – December 02, 2025 01:07 pm IST
