A routine Saturday morning departure from Kolkata to Shillong turned into a tense security episode when a bomb threat note was discovered on an IndiGo aircraft at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on February 14, 2026. The handwritten message, found inside the aircraft’s lavatory by a crew member, immediately triggered full emergency protocols. Passengers were swiftly deboarded, the aircraft was moved to an isolation bay, and security teams began exhaustive checks on the cabin and baggage. While authorities stressed that all measures were precautionary and no explosive device had been found at the time of writing, the incident has raised fresh concerns about in-flight security and disruption risks for travelers using one of India’s busiest aviation hubs.
What Happened on the IndiGo Kolkata Shillong Flight
The incident unfolded around a Shillong bound IndiGo service, identified in different reports as flight 6E3074 and 6E7304, scheduled to depart Kolkata at 9:15 a.m. on February 14. During boarding procedures, a cabin crew member reportedly discovered a piece of paper inside one of the aircraft’s toilets. The note claimed that a bomb had been placed on board, immediately elevating the flight to a full security alert.
Following established protocol, the crew alerted the cockpit and ground authorities without delay. The aircraft, which was still at the gate area, was ordered to be repositioned to an isolation bay, a remote stand away from the terminal and other aircraft. Passengers already seated were instructed to leave their belongings and deboard in a calm but urgent manner, escorted by crew and ground staff to the terminal for further security screening and welfare checks.
Airport officials confirmed that a bomb scare had been registered and that the threat was being treated as specific until proven otherwise. Security teams began a painstaking cabin sweep, checking seat pockets, overhead bins, galleys and lavatories, while parallel checks were initiated on checked baggage and cargo. The process led to a significant delay for the flight and created operational ripples across the morning departure bank.
Official Statements and How Authorities Responded
In separate briefings, both IndiGo and airport authorities underlined that safety and security remained the overriding priority throughout the incident. The Airport Director at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport confirmed that the aircraft had been moved to the isolation bay and that all passengers had been removed from the plane while checks were ongoing. The official reiterated that the handwritten note, discovered inside the lavatory, clearly referenced the presence of a bomb, prompting immediate activation of the bomb threat response protocol.
IndiGo issued a statement acknowledging a security threat on board its Kolkata Shillong service on February 14. The airline noted that relevant authorities were informed in line with Standard Operating Procedures and that it was fully cooperating with all agencies involved in conducting the necessary security inspections. While apologizing for the inconvenience to travelers, the airline stressed that passenger and crew safety remains its highest priority at all times.
Representatives of the Airports Authority of India indicated that the aircraft was being thoroughly searched, with bomb detection and disposal teams involved in the sweep. Early indications from officials suggested that no suspicious items had been found in the initial stages of the search, but authorities emphasized that the full sequence of checks and clearances would be completed before the aircraft could be released back into service or any decision taken on the continuation of the flight.
Impact on Passengers and Flight Operations
For travelers on board the affected IndiGo flight, the episode meant an abrupt change of plans. Passengers who had already boarded were asked to disembark quickly yet in an orderly fashion, leaving carry on luggage behind to allow security personnel unrestricted access to the cabin. Many travelers found themselves back in the terminal with limited information in the early minutes as authorities focused on securing the aircraft and verifying the threat.
While IndiGo and airport staff worked to assist passengers with refreshments, updates and potential rebooking, the situation inevitably caused anxiety among those scheduled to travel on the flight or through nearby gates. Families and business travelers alike faced uncertainty over whether the service would ultimately depart, be significantly delayed, or be cancelled and consolidated with a later operation. Some passengers with tight connections onward from Shillong were left to reassess their journeys in real time.
The incident also impacted wider airport operations. Moving an aircraft to an isolation bay, activating bomb threat procedures and deploying specialized security teams all place additional pressure on airside logistics. Ground handling resources, towing equipment and security staff must be redirected, which can contribute to minor delays or gate changes for other flights. While such disruptions are considered acceptable tradeoffs in the interest of safety, they nonetheless shape the travel experience for hundreds of passengers beyond those directly involved in the incident.
Security Protocols at Kolkata Airport and on IndiGo Flights
The response to the bomb threat note on the IndiGo Kolkata Shillong flight closely followed India’s established aviation security procedures. When a specific threat is received, such as a written note referencing a bomb on board, airport authorities treat it with maximum seriousness until it can be conclusively dismissed. This involves relocating the aircraft to an isolation bay, away from terminals and other aircraft, to reduce potential risk to people and infrastructure.
Once at the isolation bay, a layered security response begins. Specialized bomb detection squads methodically search the aircraft interior, including seats, panel gaps, storage areas and lavatories. Baggage that has been loaded into the hold is offloaded and re screened, sometimes with explosive trace detection equipment and canine units. In the cabin, crew records and cleaning logs may be reviewed to map which areas were recently accessed, and CCTV from boarding gates is often examined to identify any unusual behavior.
IndiGo, like most major carriers operating in India, trains its crew members extensively in threat recognition and response. The quick identification of the note in the lavatory, and the immediate reporting to the cockpit and ground control, reflect standard practices that have been strengthened over years of evolving security challenges. Crew are taught to remain calm while conveying urgency, to prevent panic among passengers while ensuring compliance with instructions during deboarding and security holds.
Previous Bomb Scares and Why Threats Are Taken Seriously
The Kolkata Shillong incident is not an isolated case in India’s recent aviation history. Over the past year, there have been several instances of bomb threats directed at domestic flights, some of them later confirmed as hoaxes or malicious pranks. In January, for example, an IndiGo service from Delhi to Pune experienced a similar scare when a handwritten bomb threat was found in the aircraft’s lavatory on arrival. The aircraft was again moved to an isolation bay and thoroughly checked before being cleared for service.
Bomb threats can arise from a range of motives, including disruptive pranks, personal grievances or attempts to cause widespread alarm. Regardless of origin, Indian aviation authorities treat every specific threat as potentially credible until exhaustive checks prove otherwise. This stringent approach is shaped by global experience in aviation security, recognizing that even a low probability threat can have catastrophic consequences if not addressed rigorously.
For airlines, such incidents bring not only operational and financial consequences but also reputational risks. Frequent false alarms can test passenger patience and confidence, yet any perception of lax or rushed security would be far more damaging. IndiGo and other carriers therefore support the zero tolerance stance taken by regulators and law enforcement, even when threats turn out to be baseless.
What Travelers Need to Know If Their Flight Faces a Security Alert
For passengers, a bomb scare or security alert can be unsettling, particularly when information is scarce in the first minutes of a response. However, there are some practical points travelers can keep in mind, drawn from how the IndiGo incident at Kolkata has unfolded so far and from standard aviation practice more broadly.
First, cooperation with crew and security instructions is crucial. When an aircraft is moved to an isolation bay and passengers are asked to deboard quickly, the priority is to get everyone safely away from a potential threat area. Taking time to retrieve carry on bags or film the scene can slow the process and put others at risk. Leaving personal belongings behind, following marked routes and listening for announcements not only supports safety but also helps authorities work faster to clear the threat.
Second, travelers should be prepared for extended delays or rebookings. A full security sweep can take considerable time, and even if no explosive is found, the aircraft may need maintenance checks or regulatory clearance before returning to service. Airlines typically offer rebooking options, refreshments or vouchers where applicable, but queues and call center backlogs can build quickly during such events. Using official airline communication channels and staying attentive to gate announcements is often the most reliable way to track developments.
Implications for Future Flights and Ongoing Investigations
As security teams complete their checks on the Shillong bound IndiGo aircraft, investigators will focus on identifying the source of the bomb threat note. This can involve forensic examination of the physical paper, handwriting analysis, interviews with crew and cleaning staff, and review of surveillance footage in and around the boarding gate and jet bridge areas. If the note was written and placed on board after boarding began, passenger movements and lavatory usage logs could become part of the inquiry.
Law enforcement agencies typically pursue legal action against individuals found to have issued hoax bomb threats, under strict provisions of Indian law dealing with endangering aircraft and public safety. Penalties can be severe, including imprisonment and heavy fines, reflecting the disruption and resource deployment such scares entail. The outcome of the Kolkata investigation may therefore have broader deterrent value, signaling that misuse of aviation security systems carries serious consequences.
For travelers from Kolkata and across India, the incident is a reminder that modern air travel operates under robust but necessarily intrusive security regimes. Thorough screening, procedural delays and the occasional high profile scare all form part of a layered defense designed to keep flights safe. While no one welcomes the disruption of a bomb threat, the rapid and coordinated response at Kolkata airport highlights how airlines, airport authorities and security agencies work together behind the scenes to protect passengers when an ordinary departure suddenly turns into a security emergency.