Bomb threat on Air India Express flight to Varanasi; IndiGo alerts received for 5 airports, security tightened nationwide

PTC Web Desk: An Air India Express flight bound for Varanasi received a bomb threat on Wednesday, triggering an immediate response from the authorities and the government-appointed Bomb Threat Assessment Committee.

According to an airline spokesperson, the security alert was received mid-operation, following which all standard safety protocols were swiftly implemented. “The flight landed safely and all guests were disembarked. The aircraft will be released for operations after all mandatory security checks are completed,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, IndiGo Airlines also received digital security threats targeting five major airports, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram. The threat, sent through alternative digital methods rather than email, was flagged earlier in the day. Officials later confirmed that the threat was a hoax, but security at all affected airports has been significantly heightened as a precautionary measure.

The twin developments come just days after a car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort metro station claimed 12 lives, leading to a nationwide security alert. In the wake of the blast, the authorities intensified vigilance at airports, railway stations and metro networks across the country.

Investigations into the explosion uncovered 2,900 kg of explosives in a multi-state operation spanning Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Officials described the network as a “white-collar terror module” with suspected links to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.