A series of flight disruptions across India on Tuesday, including a bomb threat and multiple technical issues, have sparked renewed concerns about aviation safety just days after the tragic crash of an Air India flight in Ahmedabad that killed 241 people.
In the latest incident, Air India cancelled its Ahmedabad-to-London Gatwick flight, AI 159, citing unspecified “operational issues.” The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was scheduled to depart at 1:10 p.m. but was initially delayed and then abruptly cancelled by 1:45 p.m., according to the airline’s website. The flight was operating on the same sector as the aircraft involved in the June 12 crash.
Passengers expressed frustration over the lack of clarity. “I am travelling with my wife and two children. We have no answers from the airline company for the flight cancellation,” one passenger told ANI.
In another Air India-related incident, flight AI 180 from San Francisco to Mumbai, which included a scheduled stop in Kolkata, faced a technical snag in its left engine. The Boeing 777-200LR landed at Kolkata Airport at 12:45 a.m. but was grounded after engineers detected an issue. Passengers were asked to disembark at around 5:20 a.m. for safety reasons.
“The captain told us it was in the interest of our safety,” said a passenger. Videos from the scene showed the aircraft parked on the tarmac as maintenance crews conducted inspections.
Meanwhile, a separate security scare prompted an IndiGo flight to make an emergency landing. Flight 6E 2706, operating from Muscat to Delhi via Kochi, was diverted to Nagpur after Cochin International Airport received a bomb threat via email. All passengers were safely evacuated upon landing, and no explosives were found, according to Lohit Matani, Deputy Commissioner of Police in Nagpur.
“The threat is under investigation, and nothing suspicious has been discovered so far,” Matani said. Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) confirmed the threat was sent to their official email address.
Tuesday’s disruptions have heightened anxieties in the wake of the Ahmedabad air tragedy, one of the worst aviation disasters in recent Indian history. With multiple incidents occurring within a single day, calls are growing louder for a comprehensive review of airline operations, aircraft maintenance standards, and airport security protocols.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has not yet issued an official statement on the incidents.
