HYDERABAD — Security officials at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport activated full emergency protocols Friday morning after receiving a bomb threat targeting an inbound Emirates flight from Dubai. The December 5, 2025 incident prompted a rapid, coordinated response but ended without injuries or operational disruption.
Threat Email Prompts Heightened Security Measures
According to officials from GMR, the airport’s operator, the Hyderabad airport customer support team received a bomb threat email at approximately 7:30 a.m. The message specifically referenced Emirates flight EK526, which was already en route from Dubai International Airport to Hyderabad.
Authorities immediately escalated security levels, initiating standard operating procedures designed for potential in-flight threats. Despite the alert, the flight continued under enhanced monitoring and landed safely at Hyderabad at around 8:30 a.m.
The aircraft—a 14-year-old Boeing 777-300ER registered A6-EGL—was directed to an isolated bay after touchdown. Passengers were deboarded without incident as agencies conducted detailed inspections of the aircraft, luggage, and surrounding area. Officials confirmed no injuries or disruptions occurred during the process.
Emirates Confirms Coordination With Indian Authorities
Emirates said it was notified about the threat before EK526 reached Hyderabad. The airline confirmed to Gulf News that Indian authorities alerted its operations team about a “potential security issue,” prompting internal contingency actions.
In a formal statement, Emirates said “standard security checks were carried out with the support of its ground teams in Hyderabad.” The airline emphasized that “passenger and crew safety remains its top priority,” and noted that airport operations continued under heightened supervision as the investigation progressed.
Separate Operational Incident at Manchester Airport
The bomb threat in India followed an unrelated operational setback for Emirates in the United Kingdom. The airline reported that one of its Airbus A380 aircraft was grounded at Manchester Airport after being struck by a ground vehicle.
The jet had completed a seven-hour flight from Dubai and arrived at 10:46 a.m. local time on November 28, 2025. As the aircraft parked and prepared for departure as flight EK18, a fuel truck collided with and damaged one of its engine cowling covers.
The incident forced Emirates to cancel the return service to Dubai and ground the aircraft for more than 48 hours. Engineers conducted full inspections and maintenance checks before clearing the aircraft to re-enter service.
An Emirates spokesperson stated that “flight EK018, scheduled for departure on 28 November 2025, was cancelled after a ground vehicle came into contact with the aircraft at Manchester Airport.” The spokesperson added that the aircraft was returned to service on November 30 following “thorough maintenance assessments,” again underscoring that passenger and crew safety is the airline’s highest priority.
Emirates said all affected passengers were rebooked on alternative flights and that ground teams worked to minimize delays and customer inconvenience.
Similar Threats Target Flights Bound for Hyderabad
The bomb scare involving EK526 is the latest in a series of threats affecting flights heading to Hyderabad in recent days. One day earlier, an IndiGo service, flight 6E58 from Medina, was diverted to Ahmedabad carrying 180 passengers and six crew members after receiving a similar threat.
Earlier in the week, another IndiGo aircraft traveling from Kuwait to Hyderabad made an emergency landing in Mumbai following a bomb alert.
Hyderabad’s airport has also seen several hoax threats recently. In November, multiple emails falsely claimed explosives were present in or near airport facilities, including one alleging an RDX device near the arrivals area. Some of these earlier threats have already been confirmed as hoaxes.
Authorities say investigations into the latest Emirates incident are ongoing, and additional security measures remain in place as agencies work to determine the source and credibility of the message.
