Lucknow-bound IndiGo flight returns to Bengaluru after security threat onboard

An IndiGo flight operating from Bengaluru to Lucknow returned to its origin shortly after departure on Saturday after a security threat was reported onboard, prompting the authorities to initiate precautionary security procedures, an airline spokesperson said.The pilots decided to turn the aircraft around in accordance with the prescribed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), while relevant authorities were immediately alerted. The flight, identified as 6E 451, was scheduled to operate on the Bengaluru-Lucknow route.Following the reported threat, the crew informed the concerned authorities, and the pilots opted to return to Bengaluru so that the necessary security checks could be conducted before the aircraft resumed its journey.In a press statement issued on Saturday, IndiGo confirmed the development and said the decision to return was taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and security of everyone onboard."A security threat was reported onboard IndiGo flight 6E 451, operating from Bengaluru to Lucknow on 07 November 2026. In line with Standard Operating Procedure, the relevant authorities were informed immediately, and the pilots decided to return to origin to carry out the necessary security checks, as per protocol," the airline spokesperson said. The airline also expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to passengers due to the disruption and said it was making arrangements to minimise their difficulties.Passengers onboard are being offered refreshments and receiving regular updates about the situation and the next course of action. IndiGo further clarified that the flight would resume its journey to Lucknow only after receiving the requisite security clearances. Reiterating its commitment to passenger safety, the airline said, "At IndiGo, the safety and security of our customers, crew and aircraft remain our utmost priority".The incident comes amid a series of aviation-related security and safety concerns involving IndiGo flights in recent days.On Friday, another IndiGo aircraft, flight 6E 6091, scheduled to operate from Delhi to Chennai, received a bomb threat before take-off at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI).The aircraft had pushed back and was preparing for departure when the crew reportedly discovered a caution note in its rear lavatory warning against proceeding with the journey.Following the discovery, the aircraft was brought back to the bay and subjected to the prescribed security procedures. The threat was subsequently declared a hoax, and the flight departed at around 5 pm, landing safely in Chennai at approximately 7.40 pm.In a separate incident, a passenger travelling on a Pune-bound IndiGo flight from Delhi was booked for allegedly tampering with an emergency exit mechanism shortly after take-off, raising further concerns over onboard safety.Meanwhile, the immediate focus remains on completing the security assessment of flight 6E 451. The aircraft's onward journey to Lucknow will depend on the outcome of the checks and the requisite clearances from the concerned authorities.- EndsWith agency inputs