Air India Express Mumbai-Varanasi Flight Receives Bomb Threat: Security Response and Passenger Safety

Air India Express confirmed all passengers were safely evacuated from the aircraft.

On Wednesday, an Air India Express flight traveling from Mumbai to Varanasi received a bomb threat, prompting immediate high alert protocols and safety measures to be implemented by airline officials.

The aircraft conducted a successful emergency landing at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport and was swiftly relocated to an isolation area for comprehensive security inspection.

All passengers were evacuated without incident, while a bomb disposal unit arrived at the location. Security agencies and airport authorities cordoned off the area as they began investigating the threat's origin.

An Air India Express representative stated, "One of our Varanasi-bound flights received a security threat. Following protocol, we immediately alerted the airport and initiated all necessary security procedures promptly."

The airline further confirmed passenger safety in their statement: "The aircraft landed safely with all guests successfully disembarked. The plane will return to service once all required security inspections are finished."

According to sources, several major Indian airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, and Hyderabad also received bomb threat emails earlier that day, allegedly sent through IndiGo Airlines.

These threatening emails, received between 3:40 pm and 3:45 pm, led security agencies to conduct precautionary examinations at these locations.

After thorough investigation, the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee determined all threats were hoaxes. Authorities are currently investigating whether the Varanasi incident shares connections with these earlier threats.

The previous week, Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) experienced significant operational disruptions due to Air Traffic Control (ATC) system technical failures, affecting more than 400 flights from various carriers including Indigo, Air India, and other airlines.