New York-bound Air India Flight Diverts to Delhi After Bomb Threat

An Air India flight bound for New York from Mumbai was diverted to Delhi after a bomb threat was received via social media on Monday 14 October.

An Air India flight bound for New York from Mumbai was diverted to Delhi after a bomb threat was received via social media on Monday, 14 October 2024.

Air India flight AI119, operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, was diverted to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) shortly after takeoff from Mumbai.

The precautionary diversion was prompted by a bomb threat message received by Mumbai airport authorities on X (formerly Twitter).

Air India AI119 Mumbai-New York

Flight track of Air India AI119 showing diversion to Delhi

According to local news source the Times of India, an Air India spokesperson issued a confirming statement after the incident. “Flight AI119 operating Mumbai to JFK on October 14 received a specific security alert. On instructions of the government’s security regulatory committee it was diverted to Delhi.”

The airline spokesman confirmed that passengers were disembarked safely at Delhi airport terminal following the diversion. Delhi police asked the public to refrain from spreading unverified information, stating that they would provide updates in due course.

Local police authorities went on to confirm that standard safety protocols were followed to ensure passenger and public safety. Security agencies remained on high alert following this morning’s incident and airport security has been increased.

Today’s incident follows a string of bomb threats which have specifically targeted Indian airports.

Air India flight AI119, en route from Mumbai to New York’s JFK, was diverted to Delhi following a specific bomb threat received on social media. The decision to reroute the flight was made based on the instructions of the government’s security regulatory committee. The aircraft… pic.twitter.com/e2FRfipNDZ
— Ashoke Raj (@Ashoke_Raj) October 14, 2024

Flight Details

Flight data shows that Air India flight AI119 had departed from Mumbai this morning. Departure from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) was made at 0208 local time on 14 October.

The flight was then diverted shortly after takeoff, whereupon it took up a direct track before Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport.

An Air India B777 climbs after takeoff — Aero Icarus from Zürich, Switzerland, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The aircraft conducting the AI119 the service originally bound for New York JFK International Airport was a Boeing 777-300ER, registered VT-AER. This is an 11 year old wide-body aircraft belonging to the carrier Air India. It has been an operational service with the airline since July 2023.