Over A Dozen Flights Disrupted After Bomb Threats; Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Airlines Worst Hit

The spate of bomb scares targeting Indian airlines continued on Saturday as at least 15 flights operated by Air India, IndiGo and Akasa Airlines were forced to make emergency landings after bomb threats, officials said.

The IndiGo airline received bomb threats for its five international flights- 6E 11, 6E 17, 6E 58, 6E 108, and 6E 184, said officials. The airline said they are working closely with the authorities and taking all necessary precautions for the safety and security of passengers.

The IndiGo flight 6E 17  was operating from Mumbai to Istanbul, while flight 6E 11 travelling from Delhi to Istanbul. The airline said its 6E 184 flight, operating from Jodhpur to Delhi, was grounded at the Indira Gandhi International Airport after the bomb threat.

“Flight 6E 184, operating from Jodhpur to Delhi received a security-related alert. The aircraft has landed in Delhi and customers have disembarked the aircraft, we are coordinating with the security agencies as per procedure. Ensuring the safety and security of our customers and crew remains paramount in all facets of our operations,” IndiGo airline said in an official statement.

The Air India airline sources said that flight numbers AI 101, AI 105, AI 126, 119, and AI 161 were disrupted following the bomb scare. The airline has not yet officially confirmed the incident.

Worrying Trend: Bomb Threats Hit Indian Airlines

An Air India Express flight (IX-196) flying from Dubai to Jaipur made an emergency landing at the Jaipur International Airport after it received a bomb threat via email during the wee hours of Saturday.

The authorities confirmed that nothing suspicious was found after the plane landed in Jaipur with 189 passengers on board. Further investigation into the matter is underway.

Earlier in the day, a London-bound Vistara flight from Delhi (UK17) was diverted to Frankfurt, Germany, after a bomb threat. In a statement early Saturday morning, an airline spokesperson said the flight landed safely at the Frankfurt airport and mandatory checks were conducted.

Since Monday, at least 35 flights have been diverted or forced into emergency after receiving such threats, prompting the civil aviation ministry and authorities to implement stricter norms to deal with such situations.