Bomb Threat Forces Air India Flight to Divert to Delhi

A bomb threat on board an Air India flight traveling from Mumbai to New York led to an urgent diversion to Delhi on Monday. The flight, AI 191, was forced to alter its course after security officials received a bomb threat via a message on X (formerly Twitter), according to sources familiar with the situation. The threat, originally detected by Mumbai airport authorities, was swiftly passed on to security agencies, triggering an immediate response to safeguard the passengers and crew.

Upon receiving the information, the aircraft was redirected to Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, where it landed safely. Delhi Police confirmed that all passengers and crew were safely evacuated once the plane was on the ground. The aircraft, an Air India Airbus A350, is now stationed at a secure area of the airport, where security agencies are conducting a thorough investigation.

Officials emphasized that strict security protocols were followed upon arrival in Delhi, with the airport's bomb squad and other relevant agencies mobilized to handle the situation. Passengers were moved to the terminal, while the aircraft was searched by security personnel. There have been no reports of any actual explosives found on board as of now.

Air India's response to the threat was coordinated with both Mumbai and Delhi authorities, ensuring a rapid decision to prioritize safety. The airline has been working closely with local police and security services to assess the credibility of the threat and determine the next steps.

Bomb threats in aviation are treated with extreme caution, given the high stakes involved. As such, the flight was diverted to minimize any potential risks in the air. While this caused significant disruption to the passengers’ travel plans, the priority remained ensuring everyone's safety.

The affected passengers are expected to be accommodated on another flight to New York, with Air India making arrangements to minimize the impact on their schedules.