10 Indian flights receive bomb threats in two days

At least 10 flights operated by Indian carriers have received bomb threats in the past two days. All threats subsequently turned out to be hoaxes.

On Tuesday, threats were issued to an Air India flight from New Delhi to Chicago, an Air India Express flight from Madurai to Singapore and IndiGo flight from Saudi Arabia’s Dammam to Lucknow.

The Air India aircraft bound for Chicago was forced to make an emergency landing in the remote Canadian city of Iqaluit as a precautionary measure.

The 211 passengers and crew onboard the aircraft disembarked at the airport located about 300 kms north of the Arctic circle, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said. According to local media in Iqaluit, an “unspecified bomb threat from a person in India to Air India” was relayed to the flight’s captain.

The aircraft was re-screened as per the security protocol, Air India said.

“Air India notes that it, and other local airlines, have been subject to a number of threats in recent days,” the airline added. “Though all have subsequently been found to be hoaxes, as a responsible operator all threats are taken seriously.”

The Air India spokesperson said the carrier is considering legal action against those responsible for the fake threats and the financial losses it incurred.

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