11 IndiGo flights grounded at IGIA after bomb scare

Panic ran rampant at the IGIA when there was a bomb scare on 11 IndiGo flights. All the 11 IndiGo flights have been grounded at Delhi Airport after bomb threat call.

The airport sources said the caller, who identified himself only as Smith from the US, said at least 11 flights of IndiGo, which were either ready for take-off or had already departed from around 10 airports, were facing bomb threat from a woman flyer.

The threat was for flights emanating from major airports like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Srinagar, Vadodara, Guwahati, Goa and Kochi, sources said.

“As many as 11 IndiGo flights were grounded today (Wednesday) after the airline’s call centre at Chennai received a message about bomb threat. The caller, who identified himself as one Smith from the US, said that a woman passenger allegedly belonging to the ISI of Pakistan was carrying a bomb and could blow up one of the aircraft,” a source said.

In a statement, IndiGo said its call centre at Chennai received a bomb threat call at 11.13 am and within minutes the security agencies were informed. IndiGo said: “All our passengers are safe”.

According to sources, security agencies were carrying out extensive search on these planes across nine airports.

Soon after the call was made, the Bomb Threat Assessment Committees (BTAC) at different airports swung into action. The planes, which were mentioned by the caller, were isolated and subject to vigorous checks.

The 11 flights are Vadodara-Delhi (6E 591), Kochi-Delhi (516), Delhi-Srinagar (853), Delhi-Chennai (443), Ahmedabad-Kolkata (135), Delhi-Mumbai (223), Chennai-Mumbai (612), Delhi-Goa (329), Guwahati-Delhi (571), Delhi-Ahmedabad (161) and Delhi-Vadodara (734).

“We are actively engaged in working very closely with the concerned agencies. We can assure you that our operations are safe...,” IndiGo said.

According to the airline, there are certain laid down procedures to be followed by the airlines, airports and other government authorities and “all such procedures were followed and are being followed”.