Bomb threat on Air India Express flight; similar handwriting found, crew member detained

NEW DELHI: A crew member and a passenger were questioned after a note mentioning a bomb threat on an Air India Express flight from Dammam to Delhi was found. The aircraft was diverted to Ahmedabad after the threat message was found in the aircraft’s washroom.

The incident happened last Monday. Following the incident, airline officials filed a complaint with the Ahmedabad Airport Police. The crime branch has taken over the investigation. An inspection found that the handwriting was similar to that of one of the airline’s crew members. The crew member has been taken into custody. Investigators are also questioning a passenger who had entered the aircraft’s washroom several times during the journey. Airline officials said they would fully cooperate with the investigation.

A crew member found a note in the aircraft’s washroom bearing the words ‘bomb red 430.’ There were 32 passengers and eight crew members on board at that time. The passengers were flown to Delhi on another aircraft around midnight.