Air India's New York-Bound Flight Returns to Mumbai After 8 Hours, Threat Declared a Hoax

An Air India flight traveling from Mumbai to New York, carrying 322 individuals, was forced to return mid-journey on Monday due to a bomb threat, which was later confirmed to be a false alarm.

The security concern was raised when a note warning of a bomb was discovered inside one of the aircraft’s lavatories, according to a security official.

After a safe landing in Mumbai, security agencies thoroughly searched the aircraft. After following due procedures, authorities concluded that the threat was fake.

"The flight is now rescheduled to take off at 5:00 AM on March 11, 2025." In the meantime, all passengers have been provided with hotel accommodations, meals, and other necessary assistance," an Air India spokesperson stated.

At the time of the emergency decision to turn back, the Boeing 777 aircraft, which had 303 passengers and 19 crew members on board, was flying at an altitude of 30,000 feet in Azerbaijani airspace, an official reported.

Upon its return to Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, the flight was met with full emergency protocol and was directed to a secluded area on the taxiway. "Passengers were safely deboarded before security personnel began their inspection," said an official.

Expert bomb detection squads, including dog squads and fire departments, thoroughly inspected the plane prior to verifying that the bomb threat was not genuine.

In a subsequent release, an Air India representative stated, "A potential security threat was detected in-flight on AI119, flying from Mumbai to New York (JFK) on March 10, 2025." As per safety protocols, the flight was redirected back to Mumbai to ensure the security of all onboard. The aircraft landed safely at 10:25 AM local time."

The airline reassured passengers, saying, "Our ground staff is working to minimize any inconvenience caused by this disruption. The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remain Air India's top priority."

The flight had initially departed from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 2:00 AM for what was meant to be a 15-hour journey to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.