New Delhi: After a precautionary diversion to Iqaluit, Canada, due to a bomb threat, the Air India Express flight has continued its journey to Chicago. In a post on X, Air India announced, “Air India is pleased to inform that passengers of flight AI127, which was diverted to Iqaluit on October 15, are en route to their destination, Chicago.” The airline expressed gratitude towards Canadian authorities and Iqaluit Airport officials for their support and cooperation. “Passengers are being transported on a Canadian Air Force aircraft that took off from Iqaluit at 03:54 UTC and is projected to arrive in Chicago around 07:48 UTC. We appreciate the support and assistance provided by Canadian authorities and the Iqaluit Airport during this unexpected disruption,” the message continued.
Harjit Sajjan, Canadian Minister of Emergency Preparedness, stated that the government had approved a request for Canadian Forces to send a plane to safely transport the passengers to Chicago. “The Air India flight 127 made an emergency landing in Iqaluit today due to a global aviation bomb threat. With 211 passengers stranded and no immediate solution from the airline, Iqaluit lacked the facilities to accommodate them,” Sajjan shared on X. “After discussions with Transport Minister Anita Anand and in my capacity as Minister of Emergency Preparedness, I granted permission for Canadian Forces resources to assist in sending passengers safely to their destination.”
Previously, an airline official indicated that the flight from Delhi to Chicago was diverted to a Canadian airport on Tuesday following a bomb threat. “Flight AI127, operating from Delhi to Chicago on October 15, 2024, was redirected to Iqaluit Airport in response to a security threat identified online. The aircraft and its passengers are undergoing re-screening in accordance with established security protocols. Air India has engaged relevant agencies at the airport to support passengers while their journey is resumed,” stated the airline.
Air India added that it and other local airlines have faced several security threats recently. “While all the situations have turned out to be hoaxes, we take such threats seriously as a responsible airline operator. We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused to our customers. Air India is fully cooperating with authorities to identify and hold accountable those who make these threats, and we will contemplate legal action to recover damages incurred by the airline,” they noted.
In addition, the Ministry of Civil Aviation convened a high-level meeting on Wednesday following a series of bomb threats reported on Monday and Tuesday. Previously, on Monday, a flight from Mumbai to New York was diverted to Delhi over security concerns related to a bomb threat. On that occasion, an Air India spokesperson stated that “Flight AI119, operating from Mumbai to JFK on October 14, was diverted to Delhi following a specific security alert. As instructed by the government’s security regulatory committee, all passengers disembarked and are currently at the Delhi airport terminal.”