Air India Flight AI119, en route from Mumbai to New York, was forced to return on Monday after a potential security threat was detected mid-flight.
Following established safety protocols, the aircraft landed safely at 10:25 AM local time. Air India confirmed that security agencies are conducting mandatory checks on the plane and that the airline is fully cooperating with authorities.
“The aircraft is undergoing mandatory security inspections, and Air India is working closely with the authorities. The flight has been rescheduled to depart at 05:00 AM on March 11, 2025. Meanwhile, all passengers have been provided with hotel accommodation, meals, and necessary assistance,” the airline said in a statement.
Emphasizing passenger safety as its top priority, Air India assured that efforts are being made to minimize disruptions.
“Our ground staff is working diligently to reduce inconvenience to passengers. As always, Air India prioritizes the safety of its passengers and crew,” the statement added.
The Boeing 777, carrying 303 passengers and 19 crew members, altered its flight path over Azerbaijan before returning to Mumbai. After landing, bomb-detection procedures were carried out, but the threat was later confirmed to be a hoax, according to NDTV.
The incident comes amid rising concerns over aviation security. In 2024, a series of bomb threats targeting multiple flights disrupted airline operations and caused significant inconvenience to passengers, despite all threats later being deemed false alarms.
When a flight receives a mid-air bomb threat, an alert is triggered, and the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) at the airport is immediately convened. The committee then evaluates the threat’s credibility and determines the appropriate course of action.
