BENGALURU: A Bengaluru–Lucknow IndiGo flight returned to Kempegowda International Airport on Saturday evening after a handwritten note threatening to hijack the aircraft was found inside its lavatory.
Flight 6E 451, carrying 178 passengers, had taken off from Bengaluru at around 5.50 pm. A passenger discovered the note approximately 30 minutes after take-off and alerted the cabin crew.
The note warned that the aircraft would be hijacked at 6.30 pm and threatened consequences if the warning was ignored. The crew informed the pilot, who alerted air traffic control and turned the aircraft back to Bengaluru as a precaution.
After landing, passengers were deboarded, and security personnel carried out checks of the aircraft. The search lasted around 90 minutes, after which authorities declared the threat a hoax. The flight later resumed its journey to Lucknow.
An IndiGo spokesperson said the airline had informed the relevant authorities immediately and that the pilots had returned to the airport in line with standard operating procedures.
The airline said passengers were provided refreshments and regular updates while security checks were underway. Authorities have initiated an investigation to identify the person responsible for the note.
With input from media reports.