IndiGo flight 6E 812, en route from Nagpur to Kolkata, was compelled to make an emergency landing at Swami Vivekananda Airport (SVA) in Raipur on Thursday morning following a bomb threat that caused panic among passengers. The accused passenger, identified as Animesh Mandal from Nagpur, has been arrested, and a case has been registered under stringent legal provisions. Raipur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr Santosh Kumar Singh disclosed that the flight, carrying 187 passengers and six crew members, was diverted after Mandal informed a cabin crew member about the presence of an explosive device on board. Adhering to standard emergency protocols, the pilot contacted Air Traffic Control (ATC) at Raipur to facilitate an expedited landing.

 

Upon arrival, the aircraft was directed to an isolation bay, and all passengers were evacuated under stringent security measures. Teams from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Raipur police conducted a thorough search of the aircraft and passengers’ belongings, finding no explosive materials or suspicious items. City Superintendent of Police (CSP) Lambodhar Patel and Station House Officer (SHO) Bhavesh Gautam confirmed that the bomb threat was unfounded, fabricated solely by the accused. Based on a written complaint from IndiGo officials, Raipur police have registered a case against Mandal under Section 351(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to acts endangering the safety of others, and Section 3(1)(d) of the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation Act, 1982, which deals with communicating false information endangering aircraft safety.

 

Mandal has been remanded to judicial custody following his arrest. An IndiGo spokesperson issued a statement expressing regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers: “Flight 6E 812 from Nagpur to Kolkata was redirected to Raipur due to a security-related alert. All necessary security protocols were followed, and the aircraft was cleared for takeoff. Ensuring the safety and security of our customers and crew remains our utmost priority.” This incident occurs amid a surge in threats targeting Indian airlines. Authorities have documented over 190 bomb-related alerts since mid-October, including 85 cases reported on October 26 alone. Earlier, a 17-year-old minor from Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, was arrested in connection with similar threats linked to a hacker network with alleged ‘Illuminati’ ties. Further compounding concerns, a recent bomb threat targeting an Alliance Air flight at Bilasa Bai Kevtin Airport in Bilaspur intensified security measures across the region. The coordinated response by law enforcement and aviation authorities underscores the escalating challenges faced by the civil aviation sector in ensuring passenger safety.