Bomb Note Forces Air India Express Diversion
An Air India Express flight from Dammam in Saudi Arabia to New Delhi was diverted to Ahmedabad on August 31 after a crew member discovered a tissue paper bearing the word “bomb” inside an aircraft lavatory. All passengers and crew were safely evacuated after the aircraft landed.
Air India Express Flight Diverted to Ahmedabad
Flight IX170 was en route to Delhi when the suspicious note was discovered. The cabin crew immediately informed the pilot, who contacted Air Traffic Control and sought clearance for an emergency diversion.
The aircraft landed at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad at around 4.22 pm and was moved to an isolated bay away from the main terminal.
The flight was carrying 40 people, including 32 passengers and crew members.
Bomb Squad Searches Aircraft After Threat
The government-appointed Bomb Threat Assessment Committee was alerted, triggering established aviation security procedures.
CISF personnel, bomb disposal teams, firefighters and a dog squad searched the aircraft, including the cabin, cargo areas and passenger baggage.
No explosive material or other suspicious object was found during the inspection. All 32 passengers were safely taken to Terminal 2, and no injuries were reported.
Police Probe Bomb Note Found in Lavatory
Security agencies have begun investigating who wrote or placed the note inside the aircraft and whether the incident was intended as a deliberate hoax.
Police indicated after the initial examination that the threat appeared to be a prank, although the circumstances surrounding the note remain under investigation.
The aircraft was to be released for further operations only after completion of all mandatory security checks and clearance procedures.
