“Bomb Scare on Mumbai-Thiruvananthapuram Air India Flight Sparks Emergency Response at Kerala Airport”

Bomb Scare Forces Emergency Landing at Thiruvananthapuram Airport

A major security alert was triggered at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on the morning of August 22, 2024, after an Air India flight (AI 657) from Mumbai received a bomb threat mid-flight. The incident, which involved 135 passengers, led to the declaration of a full emergency at the airport and a swift response from security agencies.

The scare began when a suspicious note with the words "Bomb in flight" was discovered in the washroom of the aircraft while it was cruising towards its destination. Upon receiving this information at around 7:30 a.m., the pilot immediately informed the Air Traffic Control (ATC) in Thiruvananthapuram and requested an emergency landing. Within minutes, at 7:36 a.m., airport authorities declared a full emergency, mobilizing fire tenders and ambulances as a precaution.

The plane safely touched down at Thiruvananthapuram Airport at approximately 8:00 a.m., where it was promptly directed to an isolation bay. All passengers and crew were evacuated by 8:44 a.m., and the aircraft was cordoned off for a thorough inspection by security personnel, including a bomb detection squad. As of the latest reports, the baggage of the passengers was being meticulously screened, and the aircraft remained under close examination.

In an official statement, Air India confirmed that the crew had followed all necessary security protocols and prioritized the safety of those onboard. "A specific security alert was detected during the flight from Mumbai to Thiruvananthapuram. The crew carried out all the laid-down security drills, keeping passenger safety as the top priority. All passengers and crew disembarked safely, and there has been no impact on life. Airport operations are currently uninterrupted," an Air India spokesperson stated.

This alarming incident follows closely on the heels of another bomb scare in Delhi, where several hospitals and malls received bomb threat emails just two days prior. The threats, which targeted prominent institutions such as AIIMS, Safdarjung, and several high-profile shopping centers, were later deemed hoaxes, though they did prompt heightened security across the national capital.

The swift and coordinated response at Thiruvananthapuram Airport highlights the readiness of authorities to handle such critical situations, ensuring the safety of passengers and preventing any disruption to regular airport operations. As investigations continue, both airport and airline officials remain vigilant, underscoring the importance of security in today's aviation environment.