A hoax bomb threat targeting a Srinagar-bound Vistara flight carrying 177 passengers and one infant prompted a swift response from Srinagar airport authorities and security forces on Friday.
According to airport officials, the Vistara flight (UK-611) that departed from Delhi received a bomb threat while enroute to Srinagar. Upon receiving the information, security officials and airport authorities promptly initiated actions to ensure the safety and security of all passengers.
As the aircraft landed safely around 12:10 am at Srinagar airport, standard protocol for such threats were followed and the aircraft was immediately directed to an isolation bay where the safe deboarding of all the passengers were held. "All passengers were safely de-boarded at the isolation bay. Currently, the aircraft is undergoing a thorough security check by the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of all concerned," an airport official informed.
Srinagar Airport Authorities deemed threat 'non-credible'
Meanwhile, following the through checkup, the Srinagar Airport Authorities announced of the threat call to be 'non-credible' and informed the public about the resumption of airport operations.
In a statement released the Srinagar Airport Authorities said, "A bomb threat call targeting Vistara flight UK-611, arriving from Delhi, prompted immediate action by airport authorities at Srinagar International Airport. The incident unfolded when Air Traffic Control (ATC) Srinagar received a threatening call, sparking a swift and coordinated response from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). An airport official confirmed that the threat was deemed non-credible and normal operations resumed."
Further, the Vistara spokesperson too elaborating on the details of the incident said, "We confirm there was a security concern on Vistara flight UK 611 operating from Delhi to Srinagar on 31 May that was brought to our staff’s attention while on board. Following the protocol, we immediately informed the relevant authorities, and the aircraft was taken to the isolation bay after safely landing at the Srinagar International Airport where all customers were disembarked. We fully cooperated with the concerned authorities to clear the mandatory security checks. All the necessary checks have been conducted and the aircraft has been cleared to resume operations."
Moreover, it is pertinent to note that the incident adds to a rising number of bomb threat hoaxes targeting various establishments across the country, including schools, hospitals, hotels, airports, and flights. Fortunately, no explosives were found in these cases, and the threats were confirmed to be hoaxes. The latest scare comes just two days after a similar hoax targeted a Delhi-Varanasi IndiGo flight. A senior CISF official told ANI that a "tissue paper with the word 'bomb' written on it was found in the lavatory" of the aircraft. Inspections were immediately conducted, but the threat turned out to be a hoax.
