An Air India flight from Mumbai to New York was diverted to Delhi early Monday due to a bomb threat, causing a mid-air security concern. The aircraft, which departed from Mumbai around 2 a.m., was rerouted to Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi shortly after takeoff. The flight has now been rescheduled for the morning of October 15, informed Air India.
Authorities at the airport reported that all standard safety protocols were being followed to ensure the safety of passengers and crew members on board. The plane remains stationed at the Delhi airport while a thorough inspection is conducted by security personnel.
“Flight AI119 operating Mumbai to JFK on October 14 received a specific security alert and on instructions of the government’s security regulatory committee was diverted to Delhi. All passengers have disembarked and are at the Delhi airport terminal. Our colleagues on ground are making sure to minimise the inconvenience caused to our guests by this unexpected disruption. Air India is committed to and accords top priority to the safety and security of its passengers and crew,” states Air India.
Meanwhile, All 239 passengers and 19 crew members have safely disembarked and are currently undergoing security procedures. To ensure passenger comfort, refreshments have been provided while the ground staff works diligently to minimize any inconvenience caused by this unexpected disruption. Once the security protocols are completed, guests will be accommodated in hotels. The flight has been rescheduled for the morning of October 15.
This incident follows a similar bomb threat involving an Air India flight last month. In that case, a flight from Mumbai was forced to land at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport after a “Bomb in flight” message was found written on a tissue paper in the aircraft’s washroom. Security officials had cleared the situation after investigating the aircraft.
Bomb threats on flights trigger stringent security measures and lead to significant disruptions, as authorities prioritize the safety of everyone on board. As of now, no additional details about the current investigation or the nature of the threat have been made available. Passengers on the flight are being provided with assistance while authorities manage the security situation.