#JustIn: Hyderabad-Bound IndiGo Flight From Kuwait Diverted to Mumbai After Bomb Threat Email

An IndiGo flight en route from Kuwait to Hyderabad was diverted to Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport early Tuesday following a bomb threat received via email, according to reports from News18 and other outlets. The aircraft, operating under callsign 6E1234 and identified as an Airbus A321-251NX, departed Kuwait International Airport at 1:56 a.m. local time and touched down safely in Mumbai at 8:10 a.m. IST, as tracked by FlightRadar24 data. The threat message, which warned of a "human bomb" aboard, was reportedly directed to authorities at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, prompting swift action to reroute the plane for security checks. IndiGo has yet to issue an official statement confirming the details, but emergency responders and security teams were placed on high alert at the Mumbai facility to handle the situation.

The diversion unfolded amid heightened vigilance for aviation threats in India, where hoax bomb warnings have surged in recent months, straining airport operations and law enforcement resources. Passengers on the flight, numbering around 180 based on typical capacity for the model, underwent mandatory evacuation and screening procedures upon landing, with no injuries reported.

Initial sweeps by bomb disposal squads and canine units at the airport found no suspicious items, though full investigations are ongoing to trace the email's origin. This incident echoes a pattern of anonymous threats targeting international routes to Indian cities, often originating from overseas IP addresses and leveraging easily accessible email services to evade detection.

Just over a week prior, on November 23, a similar scare disrupted operations at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport when a Bahrain-bound IndiGo flight received a bomb threat email claiming an explosive device was onboard. That aircraft was also diverted to Mumbai, where it landed without incident, and subsequent searches confirmed the alert as a hoax, according to a police official cited by PTI. Authorities at the RGI Airport filed a formal complaint, leading to a registered case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for criminal intimidation and public mischief. The episode highlighted vulnerabilities in threat reporting protocols, as the email bypassed initial filters and reached operational staff directly.

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As investigations into the latest threat proceed, aviation security experts emphasize the need for enhanced AI-driven threat detection and international cooperation to curb these disruptions, which have affected dozens of flights across India this year alone. While no group has claimed responsibility, such hoaxes not only delay travel but also divert critical resources from genuine risks, underscoring the delicate balance between passenger safety and operational efficiency in the world's third-busiest aviation market. IndiGo, India's largest carrier by market share, continues to coordinate with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and local police, promising updates as more details emerge.

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