Air India flight to New York returns to Mumbai after mid-air bomb threat

An Air India flight bound for New York (JFK) had to turn back to Mumbai nearly eight hours after takeoff on Monday due to a bomb threat that was later deemed a hoax.

The Boeing 777 aircraft, carrying around 320 passengers, was flying over Azerbaijan when the alarm was raised. Following security protocols, the pilots decided to return to Mumbai for a thorough inspection. The flight landed safely at 10:25 AM (local time), and security agencies conducted mandatory checks before confirming the threat was false.

According to airline officials, a crew member discovered the warning scribbled on a tissue inside one of the aircraft’s washrooms. The pilot was immediately alerted, leading to the decision to turn the flight around.

In light of the disruption, Air India rescheduled the flight for March 11 at 5 AM, ensuring affected passengers received hotel accommodation, meals, and other assistance. “The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority,” an Air India spokesperson said.

Surge in Hoax Bomb Threats Across Indian Aviation

This incident is part of a growing trend of false bomb threats targeting Indian airlines. Last year, authorities recorded 728 hoax threats, leading to 13 arrests, as per Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of State for Civil Aviation.

Government data shows that domestic airlines received 1,143 hoax bomb threats between August 2023 and November 2024, with a staggering 994 occurring in 2024 alone. IndiGo reported the highest number of threats (216), followed by Air India (179), Vistara (153), and others.

With security agencies on high alert, aviation authorities continue to monitor and take stringent action against individuals responsible for these false alarms.