Synopsis
An Air India flight from Mumbai to New York returned to Mumbai after a bomb threat was found to be a hoax. The flight was rescheduled and passengers were provided accommodations.Key Takeaways
- An Air India flight returned to Mumbai after a bomb threat.
- The threat was confirmed to be a hoax after inspections.
- Passengers were offered accommodations and rescheduled flight.
- The incident occurred in Azerbaijan airspace.
- Safety protocols were followed throughout the ordeal.
Mumbai, March 10 (NationPress) An Air India flight traveling from Mumbai to New York with 322 individuals onboard made a return to Mumbai after eight hours in the air due to a reported bomb threat, which was later confirmed as a hoax.
A security alert was raised after a bomb threat was discovered written on a piece of paper in one of the aircraft's lavatories, according to a security official.
Upon safely landing back in Mumbai, the aircraft underwent mandatory inspections by security personnel, who subsequently declared the threat to be false after a detailed investigation, as stated by an official.
“The flight has been rescheduled to depart at 0500 hours on March 11, 2025, and all passengers have been provided with hotel accommodations, meals, and additional support until that time,” remarked an Air India spokesperson.
At the moment the pilots opted to return to Mumbai, the Boeing 777, which had 303 passengers and 19 crew members aboard, was navigating through Azerbaijan's airspace at an altitude of 30,000 feet, an official reported.
The aircraft landed at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport amidst a comprehensive emergency response and was directed to a secluded area on the taxiway. “The passengers were safely deboarded before security personnel intervened,” mentioned an official.
A bomb-detection unit along with emergency fire services were deployed, and the aircraft was thoroughly examined using scanners and a canine unit before the threat was declared a hoax, according to the official.
Subsequently, the Air India spokesperson issued a statement, “A potential security threat was identified mid-flight on AI119, which was operating from Mumbai to New York (JFK) today, March 10, 2025. Following established protocols, the flight returned to Mumbai for the safety and security of everyone onboard. The flight landed safely back in Mumbai at 10:25 hours (local time).”
The airline added, “Our ground staff is dedicated to minimizing any inconvenience caused to our passengers due to this disruption. As always, Air India prioritizes the safety of our passengers and crew above all.”
The flight had originally departed at 2 a.m. from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for its 15-hour journey to John F. Kennedy Airport in New York.
