Indigo Flight Returns to Bengaluru After Hijack Threat

An Indigo flight, designated as 6E-451, traveling from Bengaluru to Lucknow, was forced to return on Saturday due to a hijacking threat. Crew members discovered a note in the aircraft's restroom, prompting immediate action.

Following the discovery, the pilot made the decision to return to Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. A full emergency was declared at Terminal 1 of the airport.

Upon landing, security personnel took control of the aircraft, which was subsequently parked in a separate area for further examination.

Authorities are currently investigating who wrote the threatening note and how it ended up on board the flight.

Airline Statement on Ongoing Investigation

The spokesperson for Indigo Airlines stated, "On November 7, 2026, a security threat was reported regarding flight 6E 451 from Bengaluru to Lucknow."

"According to standard operating procedures, relevant authorities were alerted immediately. In accordance with protocol, the pilots decided to return the aircraft to its origin for necessary security checks."

The spokesperson further expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers. Efforts are being made to mitigate any discomfort throughout this process.

Ground staff are providing affected passengers with refreshments and information until the investigation is concluded and the necessary safety clearance is obtained. Subsequently, the flight will continue to Lucknow.

Recent Incidents Involving Hijack Threats

Two notable previous incidents involving hijack threats occurred recently:

On October 13, an Air India flight, AI-2030, which was en route from Frankfurt to Delhi, had to make an emergency landing in Jaipur. It was reported that the flight triggered a hijack alert to the Ahmedabad Air Traffic Control (ATC). The plane was airborne for approximately 45 minutes. Initial investigations indicated that the alert was mistakenly sent due to pilot error, although the pilot claimed no fault on his part during questioning.

On September 30, there was an attempted hijacking involving Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Israel. During the flight, the Omani co-pilot attacked Indian Captain Smita Machchhar with an axe in the cockpit. The assault left the captain severely injured, and the aircraft started to descend rapidly. Despite this, she remained tenacious and attempted to open the cockpit door. The crew and passengers managed to subdue the attacker thereafter.