Anonymous caller threatens to blow up AI flights

New Delhi, Mar 24: Security for Air India flights was stepped up today after the airline's Mumbai office received bomb threats to its planes close on the heels of two other carriers -- Jet Airways and IndiGo -- receiving similar calls in the last two days.

"The Air India office at Mumbai received a bomb threat call today evening. Accordingly, all authorities concerned were informed about the call. (Later) It was declared as non-specific threat," Air India spokesperson GP Rao said here.

The airline has stepped up security on its flights and is taking all security measures as required, Rao said, adding that all its flights are operating as per schedule.

Meanwhile, official sources in Chennai said an anonymous caller threatened to bomb two Air India flights originating from Chennai.

According to sources, the caller allegedly threatened to blow up two AI flight 945 from Chennai to Hyderabad and the Chennai to Delhi AI flight 143.

Panic gripped passengers at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday after the Jet Airways call centre received threats about bombs in five of its aircraft from here, hours after blasts ripped through Brussels airport, killing over 20.

Yesterday, there was a major security scare at several airports in the country, including the national capital, following a phone call from the US that 11 aircraft of private carrier IndiGo could be in the danger of being blown up.

PTI