A SriLankan Airlines flight from Chennai to Colombo was subjected to a high-level security sweep at Bandaranaike International Airport after an alarming email claimed that five Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists were on board, officials confirmed. The threat, which came amid heightened national alertness following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, triggered a swift and coordinated international security response.
The incident began when the Chief Security Officer at Chennai Airport received a suspicious email at 11:05 a.m. on Saturday. The message warned that five "South Indian males" aboard SriLankan Airlines flight UL 122, which had already departed Chennai at 9:55 a.m., were “Lashkar operatives” with “clean profiles, well-trained, no suspicion.” Though the email was later deemed “non-specific,” the timing and context were considered serious enough to alert Sri Lankan authorities immediately.
Colombo Airport security personnel were notified and took prompt action. Upon the aircraft’s arrival, all passengers were deboarded, and the aircraft was subjected to an intensive security check in coordination with law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Each passenger was screened, their baggage examined, and the aircraft cabin searched in detail. After a thorough investigation, officials confirmed that no suspicious individuals, objects, or activity were found, and the threat was declared a hoax.
SriLankan Airlines issued a statement confirming the false alarm and assuring that all necessary procedures were followed in line with international aviation safety standards. “The aircraft was thoroughly searched and cleared for further operations. The alert was taken seriously and handled in close coordination with relevant authorities,” the airline said, referring to information forwarded from the Chennai Area Control Centre about a suspect allegedly wanted in India.
This false alarm comes in the wake of a devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam's Barisan Valley on April 22, where 26 civilians, mostly tourists, lost their lives in one of the deadliest assaults in the region in recent years. The attack has prompted India to take sweeping punitive actions against Pakistan, which it accuses of harboring and supporting terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba. India has since banned Pakistani carriers from using its airspace, cancelled visas, suspended trade, downgraded diplomatic ties, and taken a firm stance on security cooperation with its neighbors.
Indian authorities have launched a nationwide manhunt for the attackers involved in the Pahalgam massacre, who continue to evade capture. As a result, airports, railway stations, and other public transport hubs across the country remain on high alert. The incident involving the SriLankan Airlines flight underscores the ongoing threat perception and the urgent need for international coordination in intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism efforts.
