Chicago Bound Air India Flight Lands in Canada After Bomb Threat

New Delhi: An Air India flight travelling from Delhi to Chicago has safely landed at Iqaluit Airport in Canada after receiving a bomb threat on Tuesday. The flight, which was headed to the United States, was compelled to make an emergency landing after authorities were notified of the bomb threat, as confirmed by an airline official. For the unversed, the Chicago-bound Flight AI 127 was diverted to Iqaluit International Airport (CYFB) in Canada as a precaution. During the diversion, passengers experienced moments of panic, unsure of what was happening as authorities worked quickly to manage the situation.

“Air India flight AI127 operating from Delhi to Chicago on October 15 was the subject of a security threat posted online and as a precautionary measure, has landed at Canada's Iqaluit airport,” a statement by Air India read.

Earlier in the day, an Air India Express flight travelling from Ayodhya to Bengaluru was delayed due to a bomb threat. The plane, which had 132 passengers on board, was arriving from Jaipur and was scheduled to stop briefly in Ayodhya before continuing to Bengaluru, officials reported.

Ayodhya airport director Vinod Kumar confirmed the emergency situation, stating, “The plane came from Jaipur.” Air India Express officials explained that the threat originated from an unverified social media account.

Regarding the earlier incident, the operator of the Air India flight said in a statement, “Flight AI127 operating from Delhi to Chicago on October 15, 2024, was the subject of a security threat posted online and, as a precautionary measure, has landed at Iqaluit Airport in Canada. The aircraft and passengers are being re-screened as per the laid-down security protocol. Air India has activated agencies at the airport to assist the passengers until such time that their journey can resume.”

In its statement, Air India also noted that it, along with other local airlines, had been “subject to a number of threats in recent days.” 

“Though all have subsequently been found to be hoaxes, as a responsible airline operator, all threats are taken seriously. The inconvenience to customers is sincerely regretted. Air India is extending all cooperation to authorities in identifying the perpetrators of such threats to ensure that they are held accountable for the disruption and inconvenience caused to passengers and will consider legal action against those responsible to recover damages incurred by the airline", the airline added.