Indian Man Pretending to be Muslim Makes Bomb Threat on EasyJet Flight from London to Glasgow
On July 27, 2025, an EasyJet flight from London Luton to Glasgow was forced to make an emergency landing after a passenger caused a mid-air scare by shouting bomb threats and political slogans. The individual, identified as 41-year-old Abhay Nayak, a resident of Luton, UK, was arrested and now faces multiple criminal charges, including assault and endangering the safety of an aircraft [1], [2].
Incident Details
The incident occurred on EasyJet flight EZY609, which departed London Luton Airport shortly before 7:00 AM. Approximately an hour into the flight, Nayak emerged from the aircraft's lavatory and began shouting, “I’m going to bomb the plane! Death to America! Death to Trump!” followed by repeated chants of “Allahu Akbar,” an Arabic phrase meaning “God is greatest” [3], [4]. These actions caused widespread panic among passengers and crew, prompting immediate action from the flight crew and fellow passengers.
A Serbian passenger quickly intervened, tackling Nayak to the cabin floor, where he was restrained with the assistance of others. The pilot declared an emergency, diverting the flight to Glasgow Airport, where it landed safely at around 8:20 AM. Police Scotland officers boarded the aircraft upon landing, arrested Nayak, and removed him from the plane [5], [6].
Charges and Legal Proceedings
Nayak appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court on July 28, 2025, facing charges of assault and endangering the safety of an aircraft under UK air navigation laws. He did not enter a plea during the initial hearing and was remanded in custody, with his next court appearance scheduled within eight days [8]. Notably, counter-terrorism police assessed video footage of the incident but confirmed that Nayak is not facing terrorism-related charges, and no explosives were found on board [9].
Controversy and Misrepresentation
The incident has sparked significant controversy, particularly due to Nayak’s use of the Arabic phrase “Allahu Akbar” and his reported attempt to pose as a Muslim, despite being identified as a Hindu man of Indian origin [10]. Social media posts and news reports have highlighted concerns about Islamophobia, with rights groups condemning the rush to associate the phrase with extremism. A UK-based anti-racism watchdog stated, “This incident is yet another example of how Islamophobic narratives are fueled by ignorance and sensationalism” [11].
Posts on X have speculated about Nayak’s motives, with some suggesting he intentionally misused religious phrases to incite fear or misdirect blame toward Muslims [12], [13]. However, authorities have not yet released detailed information about his motives, and investigations are ongoing [14].
An Indian man was arrested on July 27 after causing a mid-air scare aboard a flight from London to Glasgow.
— TRT World (@trtworld) July 29, 2025
The passenger, identified as 41-year-old Abhay Nayak, falsely posed as a Muslim and shouted Arabic slogans and bomb threats, forcing an emergency landing. He now faces… pic.twitter.com/I1oksMyZ8i
Key Fact: Documents found on Nayak reportedly indicate he is an Indian national with refugee status in the UK, though authorities have not officially confirmed this [15].
Response from EasyJet and Authorities
EasyJet issued a statement confirming the incident and emphasizing passenger safety: “Flight EZY609 from Luton to Glasgow was met by police on arrival in Glasgow, where they boarded the aircraft and removed a passenger due to their behavior onboard. EasyJet’s crew are trained to assess all situations and respond swiftly to ensure the safety of the flight and its passengers is never compromised” [16]. The airline also announced enhanced security screenings for all UK flights and counseling support for affected passengers [17].
Police Scotland confirmed the arrest, stating, “We were called to a report of a man causing a disturbance on a flight arriving into Glasgow around 8:20 AM on Sunday, July 27, 2025. Officers boarded the aircraft upon arrival, arrested a 41-year-old man, who remains in custody” [18].
Broader Implications
The incident has raised questions about aviation security and passenger screening processes. Experts have called for a review of protocols to prevent similar disruptions, while others caution against linking individual actions to broader religious or cultural groups. Immigration analyst Rajiv Mehta from Oxford University noted, “One individual’s actions must not dictate humanitarian policies. Investigations come first” [19].
The viral video of the incident, which amassed over 150,000 views within hours on platforms like X and Instagram, has fueled public debate about mental health, aviation safety, and the impact of inflammatory rhetoric [20]. As the case progresses, it is likely to remain a focal point for discussions on security, identity, and public perception.
References
- A. Nayak, “Who is Abhay Nayak? easyJet passenger who yelled ‘death to America’ charged,” Hindustan Times, Jul. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.hindustantimes.com
- “Man in court after Easyjet flight disturbance,” BBC News, Jul. 28, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.bbc.com
- “EasyJet Mid-Flight Bomb Threat: Why did Abhay Nayak yell ‘Allahu Akbar’?” Economic Times, Jul. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com
- “Mid-Air Bomb Threat: Man, Shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ Arrested In UK,” TimelineDaily, Jul. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://timelinedaily.com
- “Video: Indian origin man issues threats on UK flight, detained,” Siasat Daily, Jul. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.siasat.com
- “Abhay Nayak: Man in court over mid-air bomb threat on easyJet flight,” National World, Jul. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.nationalworld.com
- “Flyer shouts Allahu Akbar, makes bomb threat on UK flight,” India Today, Jul. 28, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.indiatoday.in
- “Man in court after Easyjet flight disturbance,” BBC News, Jul. 27, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.bbc.co.uk
- “What We Know About Abhay Nayak?” Times Now, Jul. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.timesnownews.com
- “Indian-origin man sparks bomb scare on flight, raises Allah u Akbar slogans,” The Kashmiriyat, Jul. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://thekashmiriyat.co.uk
- “Bomb claim on UK flight: Man who shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ arrested,” Scroll.in, Jul. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://scroll.in
- “@trtworld,” X, Jul. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://t.co/I1oksMyZ8i
- “@MaktoobMedia,” X, Jul. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://t.co/WEEk9XJA6v
- “Who is Abhay Nayak? Supposed Indian-origin man behind mid-air bomb threat,” Times of India, Jul. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
- “EasyJet Bomb Threat: Viral Luton-Glasgow Flight Video Sparks Manhunt,” Zoom Bangla, Jul. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://inews.zoombangla.com
- “EasyJet flight diverted after passenger yells ‘Allahu Akbar’,” Organiser, Jul. 28, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://organiser.org
- “@doamuslims,” X, Jul. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://t.co/S4bIa8vmBE
- “@BritishMuslimTV,” X, Jul. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://t.co/L4KoMk45RC
- “@tajmahalfoxtrot,” X, Jul. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://t.co/2D4XG04Wxy
- “@KaleshiBua,” X, Jul. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://t.co/B5AH8C0vy4
