A Vistara flight from Paris to Mumbai, carrying 306 passengers, was compelled to make an emergency landing at Mumbai airport on Sunday following a bomb threat.
This incident marks the third bomb scare in India within a week and the second such event in Mumbai in two days. The alarm was raised when a handwritten note threatening a bomb was discovered on an airsickness bag. The flight, a Boeing 787, was declared a full-scale emergency at 10:08 AM and landed safely at 10:19 AM. Emergency response units, including fire tenders and ambulances, were promptly mobilised and stood by as the aircraft made its descent. Upon landing, the plane was directed to an isolated bay for a thorough security check. Fortunately, no explosive device was found.
“We confirm that a security concern was noted by our staff onboard Vistara flight UK024 operating from Paris to Mumbai,” stated a Vistara spokesperson. “Following protocol, we immediately informed the relevant authorities. The flight landed at Mumbai airport, and we are fully cooperating with security agencies for all mandatory checks.” This incident follows a similar scare on Saturday, when an IndiGo flight from Chennai to Mumbai received a bomb threat, necessitating an emergency landing in Mumbai. The flight had departed Chennai around 6:50 AM and was en route when the threat was communicated. An unclaimed remote was discovered on board, prompting the pilots to alert Mumbai air traffic control and request an emergency landing.
Earlier in the week, on May 28, another IndiGo flight, this one travelling from Delhi to Varanasi with 176 passengers, faced a bomb threat, leading to an emergency evacuation. Videos from the evacuation showed passengers and crew descending via slides while carrying their cabin bags—a breach of safety norms, as evacuations should be completed within 90 seconds without personal belongings. Consequently, IndiGo de-rostered two pilots and the involved crew members for not adhering to the standard operating procedures.
These successive incidents underscore the heightened state of alert and the critical importance of stringent security protocols in the aviation sector. The swift and coordinated response by the emergency services and airport authorities ensured the safety of passengers and highlighted the efficacy of existing emergency procedures. As investigations continue, aviation authorities and airlines are likely to review and reinforce security measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
