Hijack Threat Note Forces IndiGo Flight Back to Bengaluru — Threat Later Declared a Hoax
A Lucknow-bound IndiGo flight was forced to turn back to Bengaluru on Saturday evening, 7 November 2026, after a handwritten note threatening a hijack was found inside the aircraft’s toilet. The threat was later declared a hoax.
Flight 6E-451 had taken off from Terminal 1 of Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru at around 5:50 pm, carrying 178 passengers. About 30 minutes into the journey, a passenger who entered the lavatory spotted the handwritten note and alerted the cabin crew.
The note reportedly read: “This flight is going to be hijacked exactly at 6.30. Ignore this and see the consequences.”
What happened next
The cabin crew immediately told the pilot, who informed air traffic control and asked for priority clearance to return to Bengaluru. Airport authorities declared a full emergency as a precaution. According to flight-tracking website Flightradar24, the aircraft had been airborne for 51 minutes before it returned to KIA.
The plane landed safely and was moved to an isolated bay, where security agencies, including the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Bengaluru police, cordoned off the area. Anti-sabotage checks were carried out on the aircraft and the passengers’ baggage.
No suspicious object was found, and the threat was declared a hoax. The emergency was then lifted. The flight resumed its journey to Lucknow later in the night after receiving security clearance.
Why it matters
A hijack threat, even a false one, forces airlines and airports to follow strict safety rules. The crew cannot take a chance: the plane must return, the airport must declare an emergency, and every bag and seat must be checked before the flight can continue. That is exactly what happened here — and it is why 178 passengers arrived in Lucknow hours late.
IndiGo said in a statement that the relevant authorities were informed immediately in line with standard operating procedure, and that the pilots decided to return to the airport to carry out the necessary security checks. The airline said it regretted the inconvenience and was offering passengers refreshments and regular updates.
What happens next
An investigation has been launched to trace who wrote the note and left it in the toilet. False bomb and hijack threats on Indian flights are a serious offence, and those responsible can face arrest and prosecution.
Sources
- The Hindu, “Lucknow-bound IndiGo flight returns to Bengaluru after hijack threat note found onboard”, 7 November 2026: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/lucknow-bound-indigo-flight-emergency-returns-to-bengaluru-after-hijack-threat-note-found-onboard/article71679041.ece
- NDTV, “Hijack threat note in toilet, Bengaluru–Lucknow flight makes U-turn”, 7 November 2026: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/hijack-threat-note-in-toilet-bengaluru-lucknow-flight-makes-u-turn-ignore-and-see-consequences-12298199/amp/1
- Deccan Herald, “Handwritten hijack threat forces Lucknow-bound IndiGo flight to return to Bengaluru’s KIA”, 7 November 2026: https://www.deccanherald.com/amp/story/india/karnataka/bengaluru/handwritten-hijack-threat-forces-lucknow-bound-indigo-flight-to-return-to-bengalurus-kia-4211575
- Economic Times, “Bengaluru airport declares full emergency after hijack threat on IndiGo flight”, 7 November 2026: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/bengaluru-airport-declares-full-emergency-after-hijack-threat-on-indigo-flight/articleshow/135643712.cms
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
