Seven flights get bomb threats, Delhi-Chicago Air India diverted to Canada

In what appears to be a concerted effort to disrupt flight operations in India, a total of seven aircraft operated by various carriers had to be grounded on Tuesday due to bomb threats. The threats were posted on social media, forcing authorities to undertake specific counter-terrorist drills at various airports.

CREDIT: REUTERS

Seven flights get bomb threats

On Tuesday, an Air India Delhi-Chicago flight, a Dammam-Lucknow IndiGo flight, an Ayodhya-Bengaluru Air India Express flight, a SpiceJet flight from Darbhanga to Mumbai (SG116), an Akasa Air flight from Bagdogra to Bengaluru (QP 1373), an Alliance Air Amritsar-Dehradun-Delhi flight (9I 650), and an Air India Express flight (IX 684) from Madurai to Singapore received bomb threats, but no suspicious objects were found on any of the aircraft.

Air India Chicago flight makes emergency landing in Canada

Air India AI 127, which had a total of 211 people on board, was on its way from Delhi to Chicago when the bomb threat surfaced. Following this, the flight was diverted to Iqaluit in Canada's Nunavut.

The bad news is there was a bomb threat on an Air India flight and an emergency landing. So our plane is delayed. The good news is everyone is OK, they brought in a wonderful Inuit accordion player to help everyone’s spirits, and we are an extra few hours in wonderful Iqaluit. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/zyYdqcA33j

— Robin Debreuil (@debreuil) October 15, 2024

The passengers and crew were disembarked and re-screened, but nothing suspicious was found, after which it was cleared to resume its journey to Chicago.

With passengers from Air India flight 127 stranded in Iqaluit, after an emergency landing due to a bomb threat, we have approved a request to have @CanadianForces provide an airlift to get passengers safely to their destination in Chicago. https://t.co/TqL3KHbUbF

— Bill Blair (@BillBlair) October 16, 2024

Hoax bomb threats to three flight on Monday

Earlier, on Monday, an Air India flight from Mumbai to New York was diverted to Delhi after a bomb threat. Two IndiGo flights from Mumbai, one headed to Muscat and the other to Jeddah, had also received bomb threats on Monday, resulting in delays to their departures.

An Air India flight from Mumbai to
New York made an emergency landing at
Delhi Airport due to the bomb threat

All passengers and crew members have been safely evacuated

Indigo flight 6E 56 operating from Mumbai to Jeddah received bomb threat

Also, Indigo flight 6E1275… pic.twitter.com/FseYBxSEC8

— Anshu Aashi (Air Hostess) (@airHostess_Ashi) October 14, 2024

Are Khalistanis behind bomb threats

It is unclear who or what is behind the recent hoax bomb threats targeting Indian carriers. However, the timing of the threats raises suspicions of possible involvement by some pro-Khalistani elements.

In November 2023, US-based Khalistani separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had issued a threat to Air India, suggesting something would happen on 19 November.

What US said

Reacting to the recent bomb threats, the US on Tuesday said any kind of threats against commercial aviation are inappropriate.

“Any kind of threats against commercial aviation are inappropriate and matters that are dealt with extremely seriously by our own law enforcement agencies," US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

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