'Plane will be hijacked': Note found in toilet triggers mid-air scare on IndiGo flight

Panic gripped an IndiGo flight bound for Lucknow from Bengaluru on Saturday evening after a note claiming that the aircraft would be hijacked was found inside its toilet, prompting the pilot to return to the airport. The incident occurred on flight 6E 451, carrying 178 passengers, which took off from Kempegowda International Airport around 5.50pm. The note was discovered around 30 minutes after take-off when a passenger entered the toilet. The passenger alerted the cabin crew, who informed the pilot. The aircraft subsequently returned to Bengaluru, where security agencies carried out a thorough search. “We found a piece of paper on which it was written, ‘This plane is going to get hijacked exactly at 6.30’. We declared it a hoax after a thorough search lasting 90 minutes. Later in the night, the flight continued its journey,” a senior police officer told TOI. An IndiGo spokesperson confirmed that a security threat had been reported onboard the flight and said the relevant authorities were immediately informed. “In line with Standard Operating Procedure, the relevant authorities were informed immediately and the pilots decided to return to origin to carry out the necessary security checks, as per protocol,” the spokesperson said. The airline said it was making efforts to minimise inconvenience to passengers by offering refreshments and sharing regular updates. “At IndiGo, the safety and security of our customers, crew and aircraft remain our utmost priority,” the spokesperson added.