Air India Mumbai-New York flight returns mid-air after bomb threat, rescheduled for March 11

Mumbai (Maharashtra): An Air India flight from Mumbai to New York was forced to return mid-air on Monday following a bomb threat, the airline said in a statement.

Flight AI119, which was en route to New York’s JFK Airport, detected a potential security threat while airborne. Following standard safety protocols, the aircraft turned back and landed safely in Mumbai at 10:25am local time.

An Air India spokesperson stated, "a potential security threat was detected mid-flight on AI119 operating from Mumbai to New York (JFK) on March 10, 2025. In the interest of passenger and crew safety, the flight was air-returned to Mumbai after following all necessary protocols. The aircraft landed safely at 10:2am local time. Security agencies are conducting mandatory checks, and Air India is fully cooperating with the authorities."

The airline has rescheduled the flight to depart on March 11, 2025, at 5am. Meanwhile, passengers have been provided with hotel accommodations, meals, and other necessary assistance.

"Our ground staff is working diligently to minimize any inconvenience caused to passengers due to this disruption. As always, Air India prioritizes the safety and well-being of all passengers and crew," the spokesperson added.

Another incident

In a separate incident, another Air India flight from Chicago to Delhi was forced to return to Chicago due to a technical issue.

"Flight AI126, operating from Chicago to Delhi on March 6, 2025, returned to Chicago due to a technical snag. Upon landing, all passengers and crew disembarked safely and were provided with accommodation to minimize inconvenience. Alternative travel arrangements were made for passengers to reach their destination," the spokesperson said.