Patna, June 4, 2025 — Panic gripped the Jayaprakash Narayan International (JPNI) Airport in Patna on Wednesday afternoon after an IndiGo flight arriving from Ahmedabad received a bomb threat. Fortunately, all 192 passengers on board were evacuated safely, and no explosive was found during the security check.
Key Highlights of the Incident:
Flight Details: IndiGo flight from Ahmedabad landed at Patna airport around 1 PM on Wednesday.
Bomb Threat Received: The threat was sent via a WhatsApp message to the personal phone of IndiGo station manager Shalini shortly after the flight landed.
Threat Content: The message included a photo of a napkin tissue with the word “bomb” written on it.
Immediate Action: The Air Traffic Control (ATC) was alerted, and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) quickly began safety protocols.
Aircraft Isolated: The aircraft was moved to the isolation bay to prevent any risk to other flights and airport operations.
Passengers Evacuated: All 192 passengers were safely evacuated within 40 minutes of receiving the threat.
Security Check: A thorough search of the aircraft was conducted by bomb disposal and airport security teams. No explosive device was found.
Emergency Meeting Held: A high-level emergency meeting was called involving officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI), airport management, district administration, police, and CISF as part of the standard operating procedure (SOP).
What Happened?
As per the initial reports, the IndiGo flight landed safely around 1 PM at the Patna airport. Just after landing, Shalini, the station manager of IndiGo, received a suspicious WhatsApp message. The message showed a napkin with the word “bomb” written on it, implying a threat onboard.
She immediately alerted the ATC, who then informed the CISF and airport security. The aircraft was swiftly directed to the isolation bay to avoid disruption to other flights and minimize risk to airport infrastructure.
Swift Response Saved the Day
The coordinated response by the security personnel ensured the passengers were safely deboarded and taken away from the potential threat zone. The aircraft was thoroughly searched by bomb disposal squads and dog squads.
Thankfully, the search revealed no bomb or suspicious object, and the incident turned out to be a hoax.
Investigation Underway
An investigation has been launched to trace the origin of the WhatsApp message. Authorities are examining the phone number, message trail, and digital evidence. It is still unclear whether the threat was a prank or a deliberate attempt to disrupt air operations.
Officials confirmed that such threats are treated with utmost seriousness and said strict action will be taken against the sender once identified.
Passenger Experience
Many passengers shared their ordeal, stating that they were unaware of the threat until after deboarding. Airport officials handled the evacuation with calm and efficiency to avoid panic.
“I thought it was a normal deplaning process until I saw a large number of security personnel around. Later I came to know there was a bomb threat,” said a passenger who didn’t wish to be named.
