New York-bound Air India flight, 2 Indigo flights to Middle East from Mumbai grounded after bomb scare

Authorities have grounded three international flights from Mumbai – a New York-bound Air India flight and two IndiGo flights to Muscat and Jeddah respectively – following a bomb threat. While the Mumbai-New York Air India flight was diverted to Delhi, the IndiGo flights have been moved to isolated bays at Mumbai airport.

According to a senior police officer, Mumbai Airport authorities reportedly received a threat about an explosive onboard the Mumabi-New York Air India flight through social media platform X and it was diverted to Delhi as per security protocol. As directed by the security regulatory committee, the New York-bound flight made an emergency landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport during the early hours of Monday and the flight was moved to an isolated bay, PTI reported.

Air India officials said all safety protocols are being followed. Passengers and crew have disembarked and the aircraft was being searched, they said. In a statement, an Air India spokesperson said, "Flight AI119 operating Mumbai to JFK on October 14 received a specific security alert and on instructions of the government's security regulatory committee was diverted to Delhi.”

"All passengers have disembarked and are at the Delhi airport terminal. Our colleagues on the ground are making sure to minimise the inconvenience caused to our guests by this unexpected disruption," PTI reported quoting Air India.

Police are verifying the authenticity of the tweet. Meanwhile, two IndiGo flights were also grounded at Mumbai airport following bomb scare. Authorities from the airline said IndiGo flight 6E 1275 from Mumbai to Muscat and flight 6E 56 from Mumbai to Jeddah have been grounded following a bomb threat. “As per protocol, the aircraft were taken to an isolated bay, and following the standard operating procedures, mandatory security checks were promptly initiated,” an IndiGo spokesperson said.