Security agencies probing the alarming bomb threat incident aboard an Air India Express flight traveling from Dammam to Saudi Arabia to New Delhi have uncovered crucial leads. The high-profile case is witnessing intensive scrutiny, with police keeping two primary suspects under the scanner. During the ongoing investigation, authorities found that the handwriting of a crew member on board matched between sixty and seventy percent with the threatening note left inside the aircraft, while the second suspect is a passenger who frequently used the lavatory during the journey.
Crew Member and Passenger Under Scrutiny
An official complaint has already been registered by the airline at the Ahmedabad Airport Police Station, while the Ahmedabad Crime Branch is conducting a parallel investigation into the matter. According to officials, a total of eight crew members were present inside the aircraft. When investigators matched the handwriting of one of these crew members with the threatening message, it was found to have a sixty to seventy percent similarity. Following this disclosure, the remaining seven crew members were permitted to depart from Ahmedabad, while the specific crew member in question was detained for further legal and factual inquiries.
Threatening Note Recovered from Lavatory
The second suspect in this entire sequence of events is an airline passenger. Initial findings indicate that this passenger used the aircraft's lavatory multiple times during the flight. This detail is significant for security agencies because the threatening note was discovered precisely inside that same restroom. Police are now interrogating both suspects to determine who orchestrated this security scare and what their underlying motives were.
Flight Diverted in Emergency Situation
The incident occurred on a Monday evening when the Air India Express flight heading from Dammam, Saudi Arabia to Delhi had to be diverted for an emergency landing at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. The flight path was altered immediately after receiving information regarding a bomb threat inside the aircraft. According to officials, all forty individuals on board were safely evacuated after the plane landed and underwent thorough security screenings.
Alert Issued by Operation Control Center
According to information provided by the Ahmedabad Airport Police, the Operation Control Center received an alert around 2:40 PM on Monday. Consequently, Air India Express flight IX-170, operating from Dammam to Delhi, was ordered to divert to Ahmedabad due to security concerns. During the flight, the first officer discovered a tissue paper inside the aircraft's restroom. The phrase 'bomb red 4:30' was written in English on the tissue paper, accompanied by a drawing of a bag. Following this warning, strict security protocols were activated, leading to the decision to land the plane in Ahmedabad.
Safe Landing and Subsequent Investigation
Following standard emergency procedures, the aircraft landed safely at the Ahmedabad airport at 4:27 PM. It was immediately parked at a designated, secure isolation bay on the Taxiway of Terminal-2. Local police and various security agencies promptly initiated their investigation protocols. A police team led by Police Inspector AD Chavda arrived at the scene. Officials confirmed that thirty-two passengers and eight crew members, consisting of four male crew and four air hostesses, were safely evacuated from the aircraft.
BDDS Found No Suspicious Objects
As soon as the aircraft touched down safely, the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad thoroughly inspected every corner of the plane along with the luggage of all passengers and crew members. They were also questioned extensively. However, after hours of rigorous screening and checking, no suspicious or explosive objects were found inside the aircraft. According to schedule details, the flight had departed from Dammam at 10:25 AM and was supposed to arrive in Delhi under normal circumstances, but the bomb threat forced authorities to divert it midway to Ahmedabad.
