Air India Flight from Birmingham to Delhi Diverted to Riyadh After Bomb Threat

New Delhi: An Air India flight (AI114) from Birmingham, UK to Delhi was diverted to Riyadh on Saturday night following a reported bomb threat onboard. The flight landed safely, and security checks were conducted at Riyadh airport.

Flight AI114 Took Off from Birmingham at 8:26 PM

According to Flightradar24, the aircraft departed Birmingham at 8:26 p.m. and was en route to New Delhi when the crew was alerted about the potential threat, prompting an emergency diversion.

All Passengers Safe, Alternative Arrangements in Progress

Air India released an official statement on Sunday, confirming that all passengers were safe. The airline expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and assured that alternative travel arrangements were being made to transport passengers to their final destinations.

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“The inconvenience caused to our passengers due to this unforeseen disruption is sincerely regretted,” a spokesperson stated.

Heightened Security Measures After June 12 Crash

The airline, owned by the Tata Group, has implemented enhanced pre-flight safety protocols following a tragic crash in Ahmedabad on June 12. Air India has also temporarily reduced flight frequencies to ensure smoother operations.

Other Contributing Factors to Delays and Disruptions

Air India cited airspace restrictions in the Middle East, night curfews at various airports across Europe and East Asia, and increased air traffic congestion as contributing factors to recent flight delays and cancellations.

Second Bomb Threat Incident in a Week

This incident follows a similar bomb threat on June 13 involving flight AI379 from Phuket, Thailand to New Delhi. That aircraft had to return to Phuket after circling over the Andaman Sea. The 156 passengers on board landed safely, but no detailed information was provided regarding the threat.

New Delhi: Amid a spate of cancellations of Air India flights due to maintenance and operational reasons post the horrific Ahmedabad crash, there has been another worrying incident involving the Tata Group-owned airline.

Air India flight AI-114 from Birmingham to Delhi was diverted to Riyadh on Friday after a bomb threat was received mid-air.

All passengers and crew members who were on the flight are safe, Air India said a statement on Sunday.

After an emergency landing at Riyadh airport, security agencies conducted a full sweep of the plane. No explosive material was found during the inspection.

“The aircraft has landed safely, all passengers have been deplaned, and security checks have been completed,” an Air India spokesperson said, adding that passengers have been accommodated in hotels and the airline is arranging for their travel to Delhi.

A day after flight AI-171 crashlanded at a hostel building of a medical college 32 seconds after taking off from Ahmedabad airport, killing 270 people, another Air India flight from Thailand’s Phuket to Delhi returned and made an emergency landing following a bomb threat.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed Air India to implement enhanced pre-flight safety checks and temporarily reduce some services to improve operational stability and minimise last-minute flight disruptions.

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Speaking on the issue, an Air India Spokesperson, who did not wish to be named, informed that after Flight AI114 landed safely in Riyadh, the Saudi authorities conducted a full security inspection of the aircraft

The airline said alternative arrangements were being made to transport affected passengers to their respective destinations. Representational image.

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An Air India flight from Birmingham to Delhi was diverted to Riyadh on Saturday, after a bomb threat was received mid-flight. The airline confirmed that all passengers are safe and have been deplaned following a thorough security check at the Saudi airport.

Speaking on the issue, an Air India Spokesperson, who did not wish to be named, informed that after Flight AI114 landed safely in Riyadh, the Saudi authorities conducted a full security inspection of the aircraft.

“All passengers have been deplaned and are being provided hotel accommodation,” the Air India spokesperson said, adding, “Inconvenience caused to our passengers due to this unforeseen disruption is sincerely regretted.”

The airline said alternative arrangements were being made to transport the affected passengers to their intended destinations.

The incident comes as Air India and Air India Express together operate over 1,100 flights daily, carrying more than 150,000 passengers. In recent weeks, the airline has been conducting “enhanced voluntary pre-flight safety checks” along with temporary reductions in some services as part of its “commitment to ensuring safe and reliable operations”.

“Despite all efforts, due to extraneous factors such as airspace closures in the Middle East, nighttime curfews at several airports in Europe and East Asia, air traffic congestion, and unforeseen operational issues, certain flights get delayed or cancelled,” the airline said in a statement.

While it aims to notify passengers in advance to minimise inconvenience, it acknowledged that some disruptions occur at the last minute.

An Air India flight from the UK’s Birmingham to Delhi was diverted to Riyadh last night after a bomb threat was reported on board. The airline today confirmed that flight AI 114 landed safely in Riyadh, where security checks were carried out. According to flight tracking website Flightradar24, the aircraft took off from Birmingham at 8.26 p.m. and was en route to Delhi when it had to make the emergency diversion.

Air India later issued a statement saying that all passengers were safe and efforts were underway to arrange their travel to their final destinations.

The Tata Group-owned airline has recently taken steps to enhance safety measures following a tragic crash in Ahmedabad on June 12. As part of its response, Air India has introduced more rigorous pre-flight safety checks and temporarily reduced the number of flights to ensure smooth operations.

The airline also explained that factors such as airspace restrictions in West Asia, night curfews at airports in Europe and East Asia, and general air traffic congestion are contributing to delays and cancellations.

Riyadh: Air India Flight AI-114 travelling from Birmingham International Airport, UK to Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi had to make an emergency stop in Riyadh Saudi Arabia on Saturday, June 21 after a bomb threat was reported onboard, as confirmed by the airline officials.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner took off from Birmingham International Airport at around 8:26 PM local time. While in the air, the crew discovered a threatening note in the aircraft’s lavatory. Following standard safety protocols, the pilots quickly diverted the plane to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew disembarked without any issues. Security teams then carried out thorough sweeps of the plane. However, Investigators conducted a detailed search and found no explosive devices on board.

According to reports, passengers were moved to a secure section of the terminal, where the airline arranged hotel accommodations for them. Air India stated that all travelers would be rebooked and flown to Delhi.

An Air India spokesperson commented “Flight AI114 from Birmingham to Delhi on June 21 received a bomb threat and was consequently diverted to Riyadh, where it landed safely and completed security checks.” The airline did not provide details about the individual who issued the threat or how it was communicated, although initial reports indicate it may have been found in the lavatory.