Air India flight to New York diverted to Delhi after bomb threat, passengers safe

A New York-bound Air India flight carrying 239 passengers from Mumbai was diverted to Delhi on Monday due to a bomb threat, according to officials. The aircraft, operating as Flight AI119, was en route to JFK when it was directed to land at Indira Gandhi International Airport for security reasons. All passengers disembarked safely upon landing, and the plane is currently being searched by security personnel. "The aircraft is stationed at Delhi airport, and all standard safety protocols are being followed to ensure the safety of everyone on board," a senior police officer stated.

The bomb threat was reportedly received via a tweet, which is now under investigation. Air India issued a statement confirming that the flight had received a specific security alert, and following instructions from the government's security regulatory committee, the decision was made to divert the aircraft. Air India reassured passengers that their safety remains the airline's top priority. "Our colleagues on the ground are working to minimize any inconvenience caused by this unexpected disruption," the airline added in its statement. Authorities continue to search the aircraft as part of the safety protocol.

Apart from the Air India flight, two IndiGo flights -- one to Muscat and another to Jeddah -- also received bomb threats, as per officials. The IndiGo flights received the threats before they took off and the planes concerned were moved to isolation bays for security checks on Monday morning.