OTTAWA: The latest in a string of hoax bomb threats targeting Indian airlines, an Air India passenger aircraft en route from New Delhi to Chicago was forced to make an emergency landing in Canada on Tuesday, the airline said.
Air India said that the plane was diverted to Iqaluit Airport after an online bomb threat surfaced, prompting a security alert.
“The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority. The aircraft and passengers are being re-screened as per the laid-down security protocol,” Air India said in a statement.
The incident follows a string of recent bomb hoaxes targeting Indian airlines. Air India said that both it and other carriers have faced numerous threats in recent days. While all of these alerts have been proven to be hoaxes, the airline emphasized the need to take each one seriously, stating, “As a responsible airline operator, all threats are taken seriously.”
This latest hoax comes just a day after another Air India flight, traveling from Mumbai to New York, was forced to turn back to New Delhi following a false alarm. Additionally, India’s budget airline IndiGo received similar threats involving two of its flights, according to reports from Indian media.
