An airplane from the Indian airline Air India, which was traveling between Bombay and New York, experienced a security threat in mid-flight on Monday, March 10, and was forced to return to the airport in India, according to the company.
Air India issued a statement informing about the detection of a possible threat on flight AI119 covering the route between Bombay and New York (JFK). After following established protocols, the aircraft returned to Bombay, where the departure was rescheduled for the next day.
The airline added that the plane is undergoing the necessary security checks and that they are fully cooperating with the relevant authorities. So far, it has not been confirmed whether the threat was real or false.
In India, false bomb threats on airplanes are a frequent problem, significantly affecting air traffic and resulting in rescheduling or cancellations of flights originating or destined for the Asian country.
In October, around one hundred airplanes from various Indian airlines were affected by a series of false bomb threats, causing complications in their operations. Most of these threats are usually made through social media or other means of communication.
In light of this situation, the Government of India has announced that it will take preventive measures to ensure that individuals who issue false bomb threats cannot travel on airplanes. These threats not only impact the aviation industry but also other sectors such as hospitals, schools, and other infrastructures in the country.