Air India Express Flight Forced into Emergency Landing Following Bomb Threat
An Air India Express aircraft was compelled to execute an emergency landing on Wednesday, November 12, after authorities received a bomb threat while the plane was airborne. The flight, which was carrying a total of 176 passengers and crew members, was on a scheduled two-hour journey from Mumbai to Varanasi in India when the alarming situation unfolded.
Swift Response and Safe Evacuation
The plane made a swift descent and landed safely at the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi. Following standard emergency protocols, which were activated immediately upon landing, all individuals on board were evacuated from the aircraft. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the entire incident.
Security Sweep and Hoax Revelation
Following the evacuation, a team of bomb disposal experts conducted a comprehensive and thorough security inspection of the aircraft. After an extensive search, no suspicious items were found, confirming the threat was a hoax, as later reported by The United News Of India. The aircraft remained stationed in an isolation bay pending the completion of all mandated security checks before it could be cleared to return to operational service.
An official spokesperson for Air India Express released a statement confirming the event. "One of our flights to Varanasi received a security threat," the statement read. "In line with protocol, the Government-appointed Bomb Threat Assessment Committee was immediately alerted, and all necessary security procedures promptly initiated. The flight landed safely and all guests have been disembarked. The aircraft will be released for operations once all mandated security checks are completed."
