An Air India flight bound for New York from Mumbai on March 10, 2025, was forced to return to its point of origin mid-flight after a potential security threat was detected onboard. The flight, identified as AI119, had departed from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai and was en route to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York when the incident occurred. Carrying 303 passengers and 19 crew members, the Boeing 777-300ER (Reg. VT-AER) aircraft was approximately four hours into its journey, flying over Azerbaijan at flight level 30,000 feet, when the crew received information that prompted an immediate change in course. Following standard security protocols, the decision was made to turn back to Mumbai, prioritizing the safety and security of everyone onboard.
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The aircraft landed safely at Mumbai International Airport at 10:25 AM local time, a relief to all involved given the nature of the threat. Air India released a statement confirming that a "potential security threat" had been detected during the flight, though specific details about the nature of the threat were not immediately disclosed. Upon landing, the plane was subjected to mandatory security checks by relevant agencies, a process that involves a thorough inspection of the aircraft, its cargo, and passenger belongings to ensure no risks remain. Sources later revealed that a note indicating a bomb threat had been discovered in one of the plane’s lavatories, which triggered the swift response from the crew and ground authorities. Despite the alarming nature of the discovery, subsequent investigations determined the threat to be a hoax, a finding consistent with a troubling pattern of false alarms affecting Indian aviation in recent months.
Air India emphasized its full cooperation with security agencies during the investigation, underscoring that the safety of passengers and crew remains its highest priority. The airline quickly mobilized resources to mitigate the disruption caused by the unscheduled return. All passengers were disembarked and provided with hotel accommodations, meals, and other necessary assistance to ease the inconvenience. The flight, originally scheduled to connect Mumbai and New York, was rescheduled to depart at 5:00 AM on March 11, 2025, giving authorities ample time to complete their inspections and ensure the aircraft was cleared for service. The ground staff worked diligently to support passengers, many of whom faced unexpected delays in their travel plans.
This incident adds to a growing list of security-related disruptions in Indian aviation, with numerous flights experiencing similar hoax threats in 2024 and early 2025. Just months prior, on October 14, 2024, another Air India flight from Mumbai to New York was diverted to Delhi after a bomb threat was reported via social media, only to be deemed a false alarm after inspection. These recurring incidents have raised concerns about the vulnerability of aviation operations to such disturbances, prompting calls for stricter regulations and penalties to deter perpetrators. While the March 10 event concluded without harm, it highlighted the critical importance of robust security measures and the challenges airlines face in maintaining seamless operations amidst such threats. For the passengers of AI119, the ordeal ended with relief at their safe return, though the experience underscored the unpredictable nature of air travel in an era of heightened vigilance.