Port Blair, Sept 28: A routine morning at the Veer Savarkar International Airport (VSI) spiralled into tense hours of uncertainty today after an email warning of a bomb on the premises was received by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
The alarm was raised around mid-morning when the email, reportedly carrying a specific threat of an explosive device inside the terminal area, flashed in the CISF communication system and the airport’s official inbox. Within minutes, the airport’s standard security protocol for bomb threats was activated, setting off a coordinated response involving multiple agencies — the CISF Quick Response Teams, Andaman & Nicobar Police, the Airport Director’s office, the Bomb Detection & Disposal Squad (BDDS), the fire services, and the Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC).
Flights were halted, passengers were moved to safe holding areas, and vehicular movement at the terminal was suspended. The airport’s entry and exit gates were sealed while the runway and apron areas were secured by CISF personnel and local police units.
According to officials, intelligence officials traced the origin of the email in coordination with the cybercrime unit of the A&N Police. “We followed every step of the bomb threat contingency plan to ensure there was no compromise on passenger safety. The search operation continued until every inch of the premises was cleared,” said a CISF officer stationed at VSI airport, on condition of anonymity.
The tense search operation lasted for nearly three hours before the authorities declared the airport safe. “The situation was handled as per the established SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures). Passenger safety remains our highest priority, and all agencies worked in close coordination,” said local sources.
The email was later confirmed to be a hoax, but the incident has prompted authorities to tighten surveillance and review cyber-security measures to prevent such threats in the future.
Regular flight operations resumed gradually after the security clearance, though some delays were reported. Passengers praised the prompt action of the agencies but admitted to moments of panic during the evacuation.
“The announcements were calm but firm. We were quickly escorted to a safe area. It was scary for a while, but we’re relieved everything turned out okay,” said a passenger waiting to board a Chennai-bound flight.
Authorities have launched an investigation to identify the source of the email. The cybercrime cell of A&N Police is working with central agencies to trace the sender, who may face serious charges for issuing a false threat and causing public alarm. The incident underscores the vulnerability of high-security installations to digital threats and the importance of inter-agency coordination in averting potential crises.
