Air India Flight to New York Returns to Mumbai After Bomb Threat Note Found Onboard
An Air India flight from Mumbai to New York was forced to return mid-air after a bomb threat note was discovered in one of its lavatories on Monday. The aircraft, operating as AI119, landed safely at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 10:25 am. Security agencies are now inspecting the Boeing 777-300 ER, which carried 322 people, including 19 crew members.
The flight, enroute to John F. Kennedy Airport, turned back after the crew found a threatening note, as per PTI sources. Air India promptly initiated safety protocols. The plane touched down in Mumbai without incident, averting a potential crisis.
An Air India spokesperson confirmed the event, stating, “A potential security threat was detected mid-flight on AI119.” The airline added, “After following necessary protocols, the flight air-returned to Mumbai in the interest of safety and landed at 10:25 hrs.” The aircraft is undergoing mandatory checks.
Air India has rescheduled the flight for 5 am on March 11. “All passengers have been offered hotel accommodation, meals, and assistance until departure,” the spokesperson said. The airline is cooperating fully with authorities investigating the threat.
ALSO READ | Punjab Police Nab FBI-Wanted Drug Lord Shehnaz Singh in Global Trafficking Bust
Details of the note remain undisclosed as security teams examine the aircraft. The incident marks a significant disruption for the Mumbai-New York route. Authorities are working to determine the credibility and origin of the threat.
Separately, Air India Flight AI126 from Chicago to Delhi returned mid-air after a technical glitch left 11 of its 12 toilets unusable. The flight, carrying over 300 passengers, turned back over Greenland after four-and-a-half hours, as reported by View From The Wing.
The ongoing inspection in Mumbai will decide the aircraft’s next steps, with updates expected on the threat investigation. Passengers await their rescheduled journey, while Air India reviews safety measures. Further details from security agencies are anticipated soon.
