An Air India flight bound for Chicago was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit, Canada, following an online bomb threat.
The flight, designated as AI127, had departed from New Delhi, India, when the threat surfaced, leading the crew to divert the aircraft as a precautionary measure.
The incident occurred while the plane, carrying 211 people including crew members, was en route across the North Atlantic.
In a statement, Air India confirmed that the diversion was a safety precaution in response to the internet-based threat. The plane made a successful emergency landing in the northern Canadian city of Iqaluit.
Authorities from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have launched an investigation into the incident, though no explosive devices were found onboard.
Air India mentioned that this is not an isolated case; several other India-based airlines have encountered similar threats recently, which were later determined to be false alarms.
Indian news channels, including NDTV, reported that ten flights operated by Indian carriers have been affected by such threats over the past 48 hours.
Some of these flights were canceled, while others were forced to make emergency landings, sparking concerns within the aviation industry.
The bomb threats come amid rising diplomatic tensions between Canada and India. The recent strain in relations follows allegations by Canadian officials that Indian diplomats were connected to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a leader of the Khalistan Liberation Force.
India has strongly denied these accusations, dismissing them as baseless. Both nations have since expelled diplomats in retaliation, further escalating the dispute.
While the threats have been classified as hoaxes, the situation is causing concern within the aviation sector, particularly given the ongoing political tensions. The safety and security of passengers remain the top priority for airlines, with Air India and other carriers taking all necessary precautions.
