Air India Express Flight Makes Emergency Landing In Varanasi After Bomb Threat; Five Major Airports Put On High Alert
Air India Express Flight Makes Emergency Landing In Varanasi After Bomb Threat; Five Major Airports Put On High Alert
The threat email triggered immediate protocol activation, emergency landing and nationwide security escalation.
An Air India Express flight from Mumbai to Varanasi was forced to make an emergency landing on Tuesday after an onboard bomb threat created panic mid-air. The alert came through an email received while the flight was still in the air, prompting authorities to activate their highest security protocols.
The aircraft landed safely at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi, where it was immediately moved to an isolation bay. All passengers were evacuated safely, and airport authorities began a full-scale security sweep. A bomb disposal squad conducted a detailed inspection of the aircraft, which will resume operations only after all mandatory checks are completed.
Confirming the incident, an Air India Express spokesperson said, “One of our flights to Varanasi received a security threat. In line with protocol, the Government-appointed Bomb Threat Assessment Committee was immediately alerted, and all necessary procedures were promptly initiated.”
The situation intensified when it emerged that five major international airports Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram had also received a similar threat email. The message warned that aircraft at these airports would be “blown up,” triggering a heightened alert across the aviation network. Indigo reportedly received the threat email around 3:30 pm, which led to immediate coordination between CISF, airport authorities and central security agencies.
The escalation comes just two days after the high-intensity car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort Metro Station, which killed 12 people and injured many others. With aviation, metros and major public spaces already under scrutiny following the blast, the fresh threat has placed security agencies across the country on maximum alert.
Officials suspect the possibility of a hoax but are treating the case with full seriousness. A multi-agency investigation is underway to trace the source of the emails and determine whether the two incidents, the Red Fort blast and the airport threats have, any connection.
For now, airports have intensified passenger screening, increased patrols across terminals, and activated emergency response systems as precautionary measures. Authorities are expected to release additional updates once preliminary investigations are completed.
