Air India’s Delhi-Chicago flight receives bomb threat, second in a day; flight diverted to Canada

An Air India flight, travelling from New Delhi to Chicago, was diverted to Canada’s Iqaluit International Airport (CYFB) after the flight received a bomb threat on Tuesday afternoon (Oct 15). 

Flight AI 127 was forced to divert mid-route after the threat. The threat was sent via social media to the air carrier. 

Notably, this is the second bomb threat reported on Tuesday, making five such incidents of bomb threats on flights in the past two days. 

Air India Express issued a statement, saying, several operators have been targeted by threats from an unverified social media account.

“Flight Al127 operating from Delhi to Chicago on October 15, 2024, was the subject of a security threat posted online and, as a precautionary measure, has landed at Iqaluit Airport in Canada,” the airline said.

Moreover, the investigation has begun. All passengers on the flight are safe.  “Air India has activated agencies at the airport to assist the passengers until such time that their journey can resume.”

It further said, “Air India notes that it, and other local airlines, have been subject to a number of threats in recent days. Though all have subsequently been found to be hoaxes, as a responsible airline operator all threats are taken seriously.”

Earlier on Tuesday, an Air India Express flight from Ayodhya to Bengaluru was delayed after it received a bomb threat. The plane carrying 132 passengers, was coming from Jaipur. 

It was further scheduled to go to Bengaluru after a brief halt in Ayodhya, according to the officials.

Ayodhya airport director Vinod Kumar said the plane came from Jaipur, adding that there was an emergency situation at the airport. 

“Flight Al127 operating from Delhi to Chicago on October 15, 2024, was the subject of a security threat posted online and, as a precautionary measure, has landed at Iqaluit Airport in Canada. The aircraft and passengers are being re-screened as per the laid down security protocol. Air India has activated agencies at the airport to assist the passengers until such time that their journey can resume,” the operator said in a statement issued shortly after the diversion was reported.

Air India stated that along with it, the local airlines were ‘subject to a number of threats in recent days’.

Watch | India: Air India Flight Makes Safe Emergency Landing In Trichy After Mid-Air Hydraulic Failure

“Though all have subsequently been found to be hoaxes, as a responsible airline operator all threats are taken seriously. The inconvenience to customers is sincerely regretted. Air India is extending all cooperation to authorities in identifying the perpetrators of such threats to ensure that they are held accountable for the disruption and inconvenience caused to passengers, and will consider legal action against those responsible to recover damages incurred by the airline,” it added. 

(With inputs from agencies)