On May 13, 2025, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata was placed on high alert following a bomb threat call concerning IndiGo flight 6E5227, scheduled to depart for Mumbai at 1:30 PM. The anonymous call was received after all 195 passengers had boarded the aircraft. In adherence to emergency protocols, passengers were promptly deplaned, and the aircraft was relocated to an isolation bay for a comprehensive security check.
Bomb disposal units, along with Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, conducted an exhaustive search of the aircraft and luggage. While no explosives were found, the incident underscores the heightened state of alert at Indian airports, particularly following the commencement of Operation Sindoor-a military initiative targeting terror groups in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
This event is the second bomb scare involving an IndiGo flight since the operation's launch. On May 6, Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport received a similar threat concerning a flight arriving from Chandigarh, which was later deemed a hoax.
Authorities are investigating the source of the latest threat. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by aviation security in the region and the importance of maintaining rigorous safety protocols to ensure passenger safety amid geopolitical tensions.
