NEW DELHI: The series of bomb threats targeting domestic airlines continued for the fourth day in a row, with two international flights operated by Vistara and IndiGo facing similar threats on Thursday.
Earlier on the day, a Vistara flight from Frankfurt to Mumbai, carrying 147 passengers, underwent immediate security checks upon arrival after the Boeing 787 received a bomb threat, according to the airline.
At the same time, an IndiGo flight from Istanbul, Turkey, bound for Mumbai also faced a bomb threat.
Vistara flight UK 028
The aircraft, which departed from Frankfurt for Mumbai on Wednesday at 8.20 pm (local time), made an emergency landing at approximately 7.45 am on Thursday, according to PTI sources.
“The Vistara flight UK 028 operating from Frankfurt to Mumbai on October 16, 2024 was subject to a security threat received on social media,” the airline said in a statement.
The airline promptly notified all relevant authorities, adhering to the established protocol, and the aircraft landed safely at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
Upon arrival, the plane was directed to the isolation bay, where all passengers were evacuated and all mandatory security checks were thoroughly conducted. The aircraft had a total of 134 passengers and 13 crew members on board.
“It was taken to the isolation bay where all customers were disembarked. We are fully cooperating with the security agencies to complete the mandatory security checks,” Vistara added in the statement.
IndiGo flight, numbered 6E 18
Simultaneously, the IndiGo flight from Istanbul was moved to an isolation bay at the airport after receiving a bomb threat, allowing security agencies to carry out a thorough inspection.
In an official statement, IndiGo said, “Flight 6E 18, operating from Istanbul to Mumbai, received a security-related alert. Upon landing, the aircraft was isolated, and all passengers were safely disembarked.”
The airline assured that they collaborated closely with the relevant authorities and adhered to the standard operating procedures throughout the incident.
However, IndiGo did not provide further details about the matter.
This follows Wednesday’s incidents when seven flights from IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa were threatened. Earlier in the week, nearly a dozen flights operated by Indian carriers were targeted with similar threats on Monday and Tuesday.
According to officials, 19 flights have received bomb threats over the past three days, including a Riyadh-bound IndiGo flight that was diverted to Muscat.
