An Air India direct flight from New Delhi to Chicago was diverted to Iqaluit Airport in Canada today following a hoax bomb threat which was posted online. Yesterday, two IndiGo and one Air India flight also received fake threats.

“Flight AI127 operating from Delhi to Chicago on October 15, 2024, was the subject of a security threat posted online and, as a precautionary measure, has landed at Iqaluit Airport in Canada.

“The aircraft and passengers are being re-screened as per the laid down security protocol. Air India has activated agencies at the airport to assist the passengers until such time that their journey can resume,” the airline said.

As per FlightRadar24, the Air India flight AI127 flight took off from New Delhi for Chicago at 3:00 am (IST) and was scheduled to land in Chicago at 7:00 am (US Time). The aircraft is a Boeing 777.

At 5:38 pm (IST) the flight is still at the airport in Canada. The flight is yet to take off. 

The fake bomb threats were made from an unverified X handle and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) is investigating the matter. 

3 Fake Security Threats On 3 Flights

Yesterday, three international flights, two operated by IndiGo and one by Air India, received fake security threats, leading to disruption in outbound international flight operations, as checks were initiated for all three planes involved. The total number of passengers across the two IndiGo flights was 258. One of the flights has already departed while the other will resume its journey this afternoon.

According to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), a total of three planes received bomb threats. “One IndiGo plane has been permitted to fly. The two other planes will get permission to fly soon,” the BCAS told NDTV.

The first incident involved Air India flight AI119, scheduled to fly from Mumbai to New York’s JFK Airport. Following a security alert, the flight was urgently diverted to New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport early in the morning. Passengers and crew were evacuated safely, and the aircraft was taken to an isolated runway. A bomb squad and other security agencies promptly began conducting a thorough inspection.

“Flight AI119 operating from Mumbai to JFK on October 14 received a specific security alert and on instructions of the government’s security regulatory committee was diverted to Delhi. All passengers have disembarked and are at the Delhi airport terminal,” an Air India spokesperson confirmed.

Simultaneously, two IndiGo flights originating from Mumbai were also affected. Flight 6E1275, bound for Muscat, and Flight 6E56, heading to Jeddah, received security threats, resulting in immediate measures being taken by the airline. According to an IndiGo spokesperson, both aircraft were moved to isolated bays at Mumbai Airport, following standard operating procedures. The Muscat-bound plane has already departed.

“As per protocol, the aircraft was taken to an isolated bay, and mandatory security checks were promptly initiated,” the spokesperson said.

The second affected IndiGo flight, 6E56, heading to Jeddah, followed the same protocol. The airline reiterated that safety remains its top priority, and all steps were being taken to ensure the security of passengers and crew.

How much more transparent can one be, asked Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Tuesday as he again underlined that the EVMs or voting machines are safe and robust, questioning if there is any example anywhere in the country where there is so much thrust on disclosure and participation.

“Matlab kitni baar (How many times)? Anyway,” said the Chief Election Commissioner as the EVM question was put to him yet again.

In the just concluded polls, the Congress had alleged tampering of EVMs in some Haryana seats where machines with varying battery strength gave out different results.

“It (EVM) has a single use battery which can be used for 5-7 days. It’s like a calculator battery. We have made a provision. It is initially marked as its 99 per cent and charged. It can differ based on difference of voltage. When it drops to 5.8%, it gives a signal that it is about to die,” said Mr Kumar underscoring that the system is foolproof, dismissing rumours that the machine can be hacked into.

The batteries are put on the day the machines (EVMs) are commissioned and not before, he said. The EVMs are not connected, hence they can’t be hacked into, said the top poll officer as he announced the dates for Maharashtra and Jharkhand polls.

“I have explained it many times. It will take time but let me explain again. Before 5-6 months of polls, checking begins. At every step of EVM process, political parties or their agents are present. We put a new battery and after sealing there are signatures of the agent. There’s a three-layer of security including CAPF and observers. The process is videographed. The EVM numbers are also shared. When polls are over, even then we take signatures. How much more can we show? On counting day, it goes inside barricading. There’s a provision for objecting to any of this at any stage which has not happened,” said the Chief Election Commissioner.

Earlier, Congress leader Pawan Khera said that the party had sent a list of 20 seats in which the candidates had submitted their written and verbal complaints over the EVM counting votes in the Haryana Assembly elections.

“We have sent a list of 20 seats to the Election Commission regarding which our candidates have submitted written and verbal complaints of 99 per cent battery charge. This issue was raised on the day of counting…This is a strange coincidence that the machines which displayed 99 per cent battery charge were the ones on which Congress was mostly made to lose. The machines with 60-70 per cent battery charge are the ones on which Congress won. Why did this happen?” said Mr Khera speaking to news agency ANI.

Citing the results over the last 10-15 elections, Mr Kumar said it can’t be that when results don’t go your way you start raising questions.

“Kitna dikhayenge, kaun dikhata hai itna bataiye. Koi ek process comparative bataiye poori country main jahan public disclosure, disclosure, disclosure, participation, participation itna adkhik ho. Koi ek bataiye process (How much more transparent can we be, you tell me. Tell me about one comparative process where there is so much public disclosure and participation. You show me one process),” he said.