Mumbai-London Air India Flight Receives Hoax Bomb Threat An Hour Before Scheduled Landing

An Air India flight from Mumbai to London declared an onboard emergency following a bomb threat.

Today, five Air India flights, two Vistara flights, and two IndiGo flights received bomb threats, adding to a series of such incidents involving airlines throughout the week.

Photo Credit: PTI

The aircraft was 'squawking 7700' - a code used by pilots to declare a general emergency. Online flight tracking website, FlightRadar24, indicated that the Boeing 777, operated by Air India, had taken off at 7:05 am (IST) from Mumbai, circled over East England, and declared an emergency.

Flight AI129 declared the emergency an hour before its scheduled landing at Heathrow Airport in London, due at 12:05 pm (UK time). According to the latest information from FlightRadar24, the aircraft is no longer 'squawking 7700' and landed safely at Heathrow. 'Squawking 7700' alerts nearby air traffic controllers to the emergency onboard.

The spate of bomb threats received by airlines has now continued for the fourth consecutive day, with at least 20 aircraft receiving threats over this period. Today, in addition to five Air India flights, two Vistara and two IndiGo flights were also targeted.

A Vistara flight bound for Mumbai, carrying 147 passengers, was subjected to security checks upon arrival from Frankfurt, following a bomb threat to the Boeing 787 aircraft, according to the airline.

"Vistara flight UK 028 operating from Frankfurt to Mumbai on 16 October 2024 was subject to a security threat received on social media. As per protocol, all relevant authorities were immediately informed. The aircraft landed safely at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, and was taken to the isolation bay where all customers disembarked. We are fully cooperating with security agencies to complete the mandatory security checks. At Vistara, the safety and security of our customers, crew, and aircraft are of utmost importance," a Vistara spokesperson said.

Similarly, an IndiGo flight from Istanbul to Mumbai also received a bomb threat and was taken to an isolation bay for thorough security checks by the authorities.

In a statement, IndiGo said, "Flight 6E 18, operating from Istanbul to Mumbai, received a security-related alert. Upon landing, the aircraft was isolated, and all passengers were safely disembarked."

IndiGo confirmed that they were cooperating with the relevant authorities, though further details were not provided.

Action Plan

According to an NDTV report, Centre and Civil Aviation are working closely to manage the situation. The Home Ministry has requested a detailed report from the Civil Aviation Ministry on the incidents.

Airlines have been asked to provide information about the bomb threats, based on which the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will compile a report.

A Parliamentary Standing Committee discussed the matter yesterday, following a meeting convened by Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, involving officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry and DGCA.

"We are closely monitoring the situation and ensuring that we are committed to maintaining the highest security standards. Passenger safety remains our topmost priority," Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu said in a statement.

According to sources, several measures will be introduced to tackle such situations. Individuals who post bomb threats will be placed on the 'Unruly Passengers' list, with a recommendation that they be banned from flying for five years.

It was also suggested that airlines should be allowed to recover losses incurred due to fake bomb threats from the individuals responsible. The names of those behind hoax calls will be shared with the airline and security agencies. The Civil Aviation Ministry is expected to issue guidelines soon and provide a detailed report on the bomb scare investigation within two days.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has instructed the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to remain on high alert at airports.