Air India flight from UK diverted to Saudi Arabia due to bomb threat
UK Air India flight diverted to Saudi Arabia
- An Air India flight from Birmingham to New Delhi was diverted to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, due to a bomb threat, landing safely after security checks.
- This incident follows a fatal Air India Boeing Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, which killed at least 270 people.
- Following the Ahmedabad crash, India’s aviation regulator ordered enhanced inspections of Air India’s Boeing 787 and 777 fleets, leading to flight cancellations and a 15 per cent reduction in international wide-body operations.
- Hoax bomb threats have surged in India, with nearly 1,000 reported between January and November 2024, a tenfold increase from the previous year, severely disrupting air travel.
- Separately, up to 11 passengers and crew reportedly fell ill from suspected food poisoning on an Air India flight from London to Mumbai, with the airline confirming seven individuals received medical attention.