- Air India flight from Dammam to New Delhi made an emergency landing at Ahmedabad airport after a crew member found a tissue paper bearing a message that there was a "bomb" on board the aircraft.
- The pilot contacted air traffic control and requested an emergency diversion to Ahmedabad after discovering the threat message.
- The aircraft landed safely at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at approximately 4:21 pm.
- Upon landing, the aircraft taxied to an isolated bay where a bomb disposal squad and security agencies conducted a thorough sweep.
- All 32 passengers were deboarded safely and transferred to Terminal 2; no suspicious items were found during the search.
- An investigation has been launched, with passengers being interviewed and handwriting samples collected; the threat has not yet been confirmed as genuine or a hoax.
An Air India flight from Dammam to New Delhi was forced to make an emergency landing at Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport after a bomb threat was discovered mid-air.1
The incident occurred around 4:30 PM on Monday when a crew member found a tissue paper in the lavatory with the word "BOMB" written on it.
The pilots promptly diverted the aircraft, which was carrying 32 passengers, to Ahmedabad after the threat was reported, according to Assistant Commissioner of Police VN Yadav.
Upon landing, the aircraft was directed to an isolated bay away from the main terminal, where emergency units were on standby.
All passengers were safely evacuated and transferred to Terminal 2 without incident, and no injuries were reported.
Security agencies, including a bomb disposal squad, conducted a thorough sweep of the aircraft, inspecting the cabin, cargo hold, and fuselage, but found no explosives or suspicious items.
An Air India Express spokesperson confirmed that the government-appointed Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) was alerted, and all security protocols were initiated immediately.
Authorities are now investigating the incident, interviewing passengers to determine who accessed the lavatory before the note was discovered, and collecting handwriting samples for comparison.
As of now, it remains unclear whether the threat was genuine or a hoax, with further details expected later in the evening.
“The aircraft was diverted to an isolated bay away from the main terminal, where a bomb disposal squad and security agencies conducted a thorough sweep. Investigators are interviewing all 32 passengers and collecting handwriting samples to determine who placed the note, with the threat not yet confirmed as genuine or a hoax.”
