Full Emergency Declared at Kerala Airport After Bomb Threat on Air India Flight from Mumbai
A full emergency was declared at Thiruvananthapuram Airport after Air India flight AI657 from Mumbai received a bomb threat. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers were evacuated without incident. The incident follows recent bomb threats in Delhi targeting hospitals and malls, which were later confirmed as hoaxes.
A bomb threat prompted a full emergency at Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Thursday morning after an Air India flight from Mumbai, carrying 135 passengers, safely landed following the mid-flight alert. The flight, AI657, was immediately placed in an isolation bay as security agencies conducted mandatory checks to ensure passenger safety.
Incident Overview
The incident unfolded as Air India flight AI657 was en route from Mumbai to Thiruvananthapuram. According to reports, the bomb threat was communicated by the pilot as the aircraft approached its destination at approximately 7:30 am. Reacting swiftly, airport authorities declared a full emergency at 7:36 am, ensuring all necessary precautions were in place for the aircraft’s arrival.
The flight landed safely at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, where it was directed to a remote isolation bay. By 8:44 am, all passengers and crew members had safely disembarked from the aircraft. An Air India spokesperson confirmed that the crew carried out all prescribed security protocols, with passenger safety as the top priority.
Security Measures and Response
Upon landing, the aircraft was subjected to rigorous security checks by the relevant agencies, a standard procedure in such scenarios. The airport authorities issued a statement confirming the successful management of the situation: “AI 657 (BOM-TRV) reported a bomb threat at 0730 hours on August 22, 2024. A full emergency was declared at TRV Airport at 0736 hours. The aircraft landed safely. It is now parked at the Isolation Bay, where the evacuation process has begun. There has been no impact on life. Airport operations are currently uninterrupted.”
This prompt response from both the flight crew and airport authorities ensured that all passengers were evacuated without incident, and no disruptions occurred in other airport operations.
Recent Bomb Threats in Delhi
This incident comes on the heels of similar bomb scares in Delhi, where several hospitals and shopping malls received bomb threat emails just two days prior, on August 20. Notable institutions, including AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Apollo Hospital, and Fortis Hospital, were among those targeted. Prominent shopping centers like Chanakya Mall, Select City Walk Mall in Saket, Ambience Mall, and DLF Mall also received threats, all of which were later determined to be hoaxes.
In response to the bomb threats, Delhi police heightened security across over 100 hospitals and malls in the city, ensuring that all potential risks were addressed.
The bomb threat on Air India flight AI657 highlights the continued vigilance required in aviation security. The swift actions taken by the flight crew, airport authorities, and security agencies ensured the safety of all passengers and crew onboard, while maintaining normal airport operations. This incident, along with recent threats in Delhi, underscores the importance of robust security measures and prompt responses in averting potential crises and protecting public safety.
