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Air India Flight Bomb Threat 2024, 19 Flights Targeted in Three Days Across India

Air India Flight Bomb Threat 2024, Air India plane makes emergency landing in Canada after bomb threat

 

Air India Flight Bomb Threat 2024 : An Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago was diverted to Canada’s Iqaluit airport on Tuesday following a bomb threat. An airline official confirmed the incident and said the plane had to make an emergency landing enroute to the United States after authorities were informed about the potential threat. “Air India flight AI127, scheduled to fly from Delhi to Chicago on October 15, was the subject of a security threat posted online and was diverted to Canada’s Iqaluit airport as a precautionary measure,” a statement issued by Air India said.

7 flights including Air India, Indigo exclusively received fake bomb threats

Seven flights, including a Chicago-bound Air India flight, received bomb threat messages through social media handles on Tuesday, disrupting flights and raising security concerns. The bomb threat prompted security agencies to immediately launch anti-terror drills at various airports, leading to delays in flight schedules, PTI reported. The airlines received the threats through an ex-handle, just a day after three flights flying from Mumbai received false bomb threats, causing inconvenience to passengers and airline crews.

7 Flights Name 

Air India Flight Bomb Threat 2024, The seven flights targeted by the x handle were – Air India Express flight from Jaipur to Bengaluru via Ayodhya (IX765), SpiceJet flight from Darbhanga to Mumbai (SG116), Akasa Air flight from Bagdogra to Bengaluru (QP 1373), Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago (AI 127), IndiGo flight from Dammam (Saudi Arabia) to Lucknow (6E 98), Alliance Air’s Amritsar-Dehradun-Delhi flight (9I 650) and Air India Express flight from Madurai to Singapore (IX 684).Soon after the bomb threats were flagged, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) wrote to cyber security agencies and the x handle that issued the threats was suspended.

Air India plane makes emergency landing in Canada after bomb threat

Air India Flight Bomb Threat 2024, A Chicago-bound Air India plane was forced to make an abrupt landing in the Arctic city of Iqaluit after a false bomb threat. The emergency stop before sunrise on Tuesday came less than a day after senior diplomats were expelled amid a growing dispute between Canada and India.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a news release that the plane’s 211 crew and passengers landed at Iqaluit airport, about 300 km (186 miles) north of the Arctic Circle. Air India Flight Bomb Threat 2024 According to local media in Iqaluit, an “unspecified bomb threat to Air India by an individual in India” was made to the flight’s captain.

In a statement posted on X, the carrier said: “The aircraft and passengers are being re-screened as per prescribed security protocols. Air India has activated agencies at the airport to assist passengers until their journey is resumed.”

Air India Flight Bomb Threat 2024, Tensions between Canada and India have been high since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Delhi of orchestrating the killing of prominent Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia province last year.

But India’s flagship airline said it and other airlines have faced “multiple threats” in recent days. On Monday, an Air India flight from Mumbai to New York was diverted to Delhi after a false bomb threat. The country’s low-cost airline IndiGo reported threats against two flights to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Muscat in Oman.

Air India Flight Bomb Threat 2024, Almost a year ago, Canadian authorities and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigated alleged “threats” against Air India after a prominent separatist leader warned Sikhs against flying with the airline on November 19. US-based activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu had called for a boycott of India’s flagship airline.

At the time, Canada’s transport minister said the government took threats to aviation “extremely seriously”, adding that officials were “investigating recent threats circulating online”. Air India Flight Bomb Threat 2024, The threats to Air India flights from Canada may revive memories of the 1985 Air India bombings, carried out by Sikh extremists. Three hundred and twenty-nine people were killed when Air India Flight 182 from Montreal exploded off the coast of Ireland. It was scheduled to stop at London Heathrow before heading to Delhi and eventually Mumbai.

The victims included 280 Canadians and 86 children, and the attack still remains the worst act of mass murder in Canadian history. A second bomb, aimed at another plane, killed two baggage handlers when it exploded at Tokyo’s Narita airport before being loaded onto the Air India plane.

In the years that followed, Canadian officials have faced criticism for ignoring or downplaying the threats. Canada’s RCMP is expected to provide more details about the threat later on Tuesday.

Indian Airlines Flights Diverted and Delayed Due to Bomb Threats

In a statement, IndiGo said, “Flight 6E 98 from Dammam to Lucknow was diverted to Jaipur due to a security alert. The aircraft was isolated and all passengers were safely deplaned… We are working closely with the relevant authorities and mandatory investigations are underway.” Air India Express’ Jaipur-Ayodhya-Bengaluru flight IX765 was held up for several hours at the Ayodhya airport due to a bomb threat. Air India Flight Bomb Threat 2024, According to flight tracking data, the flight finally departed for Bengaluru at 6:21 pm after a delay of about three-and-a-half hours.

An Air India Express spokesperson said, “Air India Express and some other operators received a specific security threat from an unverified social media handle. In response, security protocols were immediately activated as directed by the government-appointed Bomb Threat Assessment Committee. “Air India Flight Bomb Threat 2024,  In the case of the Air India Express flight and the affected flights of Akasa Air and SpiceJet, diversion was not required as the threats were received when the aircraft were close to their respective destinations, it is learnt. Air India Express’ Madurai-Singapore flight, which had also received a bomb threat, landed safely in Singapore in the evening.

“Air India Express received an email that there was a bomb on board flight AXB684 bound for Singapore. Two of our RSAF F-15SGs escorted the aircraft away from populated areas and landed it safely at Singapore Changi Airport at around 10:04 pm tonight,” Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen posted on X. An airline official said necessary security protocols were underway at the Singapore airport, including aircraft inspection and checking of passengers and their luggage. SpiceJet spokesperson said, “SpiceJet flight SG 116 flying on the Darbhanga-Mumbai sector was informed about the bomb threat by Mumbai ATC via a tweet.

The aircraft landed safely at Mumbai airport and was moved to an isolation bay as a precautionary measure. All passengers disembarked normally and security agencies were immediately informed. After a full security check, the aircraft was cleared for onward flights.” “Akasa Air flight QP 1373, flying from Bagdogra to Bengaluru on October 15, 2024, carrying 167 passengers, 2 infants and 7 crew members, received a security alert on board the aircraft. The Captain followed all the necessary emergency procedures and landed safely at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru at 13:39.

All passengers were deboarded and local authorities conducted the necessary security checks, following which the aircraft was released for operations,” said an Akasa Air spokesperson, adding that the passengers exited the airport terminal at 4:30 pm after completing the necessary security procedures. Air India Flight Bomb Threat 2024, In the last few months, flights of several Indian airlines have received fake bomb threats. Just last month, a Vistara flight from Mumbai to Frankfurt was diverted to Erzurum airport in Turkey’s eastern region after a bomb threat. Though the threat turned out to be a hoax, the incident turned out to be an ordeal for passengers who were on board. Stuck in Erzurum for almost 24 hours.

Bomb threats on the rise : 19 Flights Targeted in Three Days Across India

Bomb threats have been reported on 19 flights in the last three days, with several incidents occurring in a span of 24 hours. This alarming trend has led to security protocols and diversions across several airlines, including IndiGo and Air India Express.

One of the affected flights was IndiGo’s Riyadh-bound service, which was diverted to Muscat due to a bomb threat. “The aircraft has been isolated, and all passengers have been safely deplaned,” an airline spokesperson confirmed. According to officials, the wave of threats communicated mainly through social media has been identified as a rumour.

In another incident, IndiGo flight 6E 1011 from Mumbai to Singapore received a security alert, which led to its safe landing in Singapore. Similarly, flight 6E 515 from Chennai to Lucknow also received a security alert while landing, following which it was kept in a separate bay for security checks. Late on Tuesday night, an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Mumbai was diverted to Ahmedabad following a bomb threat. Meanwhile, an Akasa Air flight from Delhi to Bengaluru had to return to Delhi after receiving a similar threat, with 174 passengers, three infants and seven crew members on board.

SpiceJet too faced threats on two of its flights – one from Leh to Delhi and the other from Darbhanga to Mumbai. According to the spokesperson, both the planes safely disembarked their passengers before being cleared for further operations. Also, Vistara flight UK 161 from Delhi to Hong Kong received a threat on October 15 but landed safely after undergoing mandatory security checks before being cleared for operations. Additionally, Air India Express flight IX 437 from Kochi to Dubai also received a bomb threat but that too landed safely at its destination.

The situation has raised concerns at the government level, with the issue of multiple fake threats being discussed in a parliamentary committee meeting. Civil Aviation Secretary Vumlunmuang Vulnam confirmed that investigators are actively gathering information and taking necessary action regarding these threats. However, he did not reveal any further details due to the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation.

This surge in bomb threats comes on the heels of a similar incident in which nine flights were targeted on Tuesday alone. Notably, Air India’s AI 127 flight from Delhi to Chicago was diverted to a Canadian airport, with its passengers later airlifted to Chicago by a Canadian Air Force aircraft.

The Singapore Armed Forces also sent two fighter jets to escort Air India Express Flight IX 684 from Madurai to Singapore after it received a bomb threat. The plane landed successfully at Singapore’s Changi Airport, ensuring safety for all on board.

With the rising number of bomb threats, airlines are under increasing pressure to strengthen security measures and ensure passenger safety amid fears of potential threats.

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