20th Bomb Threat Strikes Vistara Flight From Frankfurt, Emergency Landing In Mumbai

In the early hours of Thursday, a Vistara flight from Frankfurt to Mumbai made an emergency landing following the latest in a series of bomb threats targeting Indian airlines.

This incident marked the 20th bomb threat received by Indian carriers within a week, with Vistara flight UK 28 transmitting a general emergency code (7700) while flying over Pakistan at around 6:00 am IST, as reported by Hindustan Times.

20th Bomb Threat Strikes Vistara Flight

The aircraft landed safely at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at approximately 7:40 am. After landing, the Vistara plane was directed to an isolated bay for passenger disembarkation and security procedures. According to a Vistara spokesperson, the security alert had been communicated via social media, and the airline promptly informed the relevant authorities, following all safety protocols to ensure passenger security.

In recent days, Indian carriers have faced an unprecedented surge in false bomb threats. On Monday, three international flights received threats, followed by ten on Tuesday and at least six more on Wednesday, as reported by Hindustan Times. These threats, primarily communicated through social media, have targeted both major Indian airlines and smaller regional carriers, causing widespread disruption.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu condemned these threats, calling them "mischievous and unlawful actions" that endanger the safety and operational integrity of the aviation sector. Naidu highlighted the recent arrest of a minor by Mumbai Police in connection with bomb threats issued against three flights and assured that further efforts are underway to identify and prosecute others involved, as per media reports.

Meanwhile, Air India was also affected by bomb threats recently. A Canadian Air Force aircraft had to transport stranded passengers to Chicago after an Air India flight was diverted to Iqaluit Airport due to a similar threat.