Bomb Threat: Akasa Air Flight Diverted to Ahmedabad After Security Concerns

Another day, another bomb threat in Indian aviation. This word “bomb threat” has literally become a joke. Unless there is some strict punishment for such callers, these threats will continue. The latest victim of this bomb threat menace is an Akasa Air flight heading from Delhi to Mumbai.

Akasa Air Flight Faces Bomb Threat

Akasa Air Boeing 737 MAX 8 registered as VT-YAG was operating flight QP1719 from Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) to Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM). The aircraft departed Delhi Airport at 08:49 AM and was expected to arrive at Mumbai Airport at 10:45 AM.

After covering almost half of its journey, the aircraft received a security threat. It is still unknown how the threat was made. Looking at the severity of the situation, the pilots decided to divert the aircraft to Ahmedabad Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD).

As the aircraft was nearing the airspace above the Dahod region, it turned towards the diversion airport. It started descending from the cruising altitude of 36,000 ft.

At 10:13 AM, the aircraft safely landed. All 187 passengers and six crew members onboard the aircraft are safe and sound. Akasa Air in a statement confirmed that the flight had some security concerns, prompting the crew to divert to Ahmedabad. The crew followed all the necessary SOPs. The Boeing 737 MAX is currently undergoing inspection by the security agencies. Akasa Air is cooperating with the agencies.

The aircraft involved in this incident is a Boeing 737 MAX 8 registered as VT-YAG. This nearly 5-year-old aircraft was earlier expected to be delivered to Korean Eastar Jet. Powered by a pair of CFM engines, this aircraft accommodates 189 passengers in an all-economy configuration.

Sixth Incident in the Recent Past

In the recent past, five more incidents have occurred similar to this one. In three incidents, IndiGo flights were involved, while in the remaining two, Vistara flights were involved.

Here is a look at all of them:

🔴IndiGo flight full-scale evacuation: IndiGo flight 6E2211 from Delhi to Varanasi had to be evacuated using emergency slides after the aircraft received a bomb threat.

🔴Vistara Srinagar Incident: Vistara Airbus A320neo registered as VT-TNL was involved in a bomb scare incident while flying to Srinagar Airport. The airport was shut down for two hours.

🔴IndiGo Chennai-Mumbai flight: IndiGo flight landed at Mumbai Airport with emergency equipment on standby. The aircraft was checked and nothing suspicious was found.

🔴IndiGo Varanasi-Delhi flight: On the same day, the IndiGo flight from Varanasi to Delhi received a threat on call. The A320 was taken to the isolation bay at Delhi Airport and thoroughly checked. Nothing was found.

🔴Vistara Paris to Mumbai flight: Vistara Dreamliner made an emergency landing while operating from Paris to Mumbai. The cabin crew noticed a bomb threat written on the airsickness bag. The Dreamliner was checked thoroughly at Mumbai airport.

In one of these threats, the caller has been nabbed. Unless there are any strict punishments for such threat makers, these threats will continue to disrupt the airline and airport operations.

Conclusion

An Akasa Air Boeing 737 MAX 8 flying from Delhi to Mumbai had to divert to Ahmedabad after it received a bomb threat. At Ahmedabad, the Boeing 737 MAX registered as VT-YAG is undergoing full inspection.

What should the punishments for such crimes be? Discuss in the comment section.