Air India Flight Diverted to Riyadh Amid Bomb Threat: What Happened?

Emergency Diversion of Air India Flight

New Delhi: An Air India flight traveling from Birmingham, UK, to Delhi was redirected to Riyadh on Saturday night due to a reported bomb threat, as confirmed by the airline on Sunday.

The flight, designated AI114, landed safely in Riyadh, where thorough security checks were conducted.

Flight tracking service Flightradar24 indicated that the aircraft departed Birmingham at 8:26 p.m. and was en route to Delhi when the emergency diversion occurred.

Air India later reassured that all passengers were unharmed and that arrangements were being made to continue their journey to their intended destinations.

"We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers due to this unexpected disruption. Alternative travel arrangements are being organized to ensure they reach their destinations," stated an airline spokesperson.

Following a tragic incident in Ahmedabad on June 12, the Tata Group-owned airline has implemented enhanced safety protocols.

As part of these measures, Air India has increased pre-flight safety inspections and temporarily reduced flight frequencies to maintain operational efficiency.

The airline also noted that various factors, including airspace restrictions in the Middle East, night curfews at European and East Asian airports, and overall air traffic congestion, are contributing to delays and cancellations.

This incident marks another recent bomb threat faced by Air India; on June 13, flight AI379, which was traveling from Phuket, Thailand, to New Delhi, had to return shortly after takeoff due to a similar threat.

The aircraft, carrying 156 passengers, circled over the Andaman Sea before safely landing back at Phuket International Airport.

Thai airport officials confirmed the emergency landing but did not provide further details regarding the nature of the threat. Air India has yet to comment on this earlier incident.