US Labels Air India Bomb Threats ‘Extremely Serious’

Washington [US], October 16, 2024: The United States has expressed deep concern over a series of bomb threats targeting Air India flights, which have led to emergency landings and heightened security measures across multiple countries. The US Department of State described these threats as “extremely serious” and reiterated the importance of aviation safety.

One of the most alarming incidents involved an Air India flight from Mumbai to Chicago, which was forced to make an emergency landing in Canada after receiving a bomb threat. In another instance, fighter jets were scrambled in Singapore to escort an Air India flight following a similar threat. These ongoing threats have led to several grounded flights and have raised serious concerns about the safety of commercial aviation worldwide.

US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller addressed the issue during a press briefing on Tuesday. “Any kinds of threats against commercial aviation are inappropriate and matters that are dealt with extremely seriously by our own law enforcement agencies,” Miller stated, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

The threats, reportedly made by several US-based individuals over the past few months, are being thoroughly investigated by law enforcement agencies in the US and other affected countries. Despite the escalating situation, Miller assured that the strong diplomatic partnership between India and the US remains intact. “India continues to be an incredibly strong partner of the United States,” he said, adding that both nations are committed to maintaining open communication and addressing any concerns that arise.

In Singapore, authorities responded swiftly when Air India Express received an email warning of a bomb on board flight AXB684, which was bound for Singapore. Singapore scrambled its RSAF F-15SG fighter jets to escort the aircraft away from populated areas, ensuring the safety of passengers and civilians.

“Two of our RSAF F-15SGs scrambled and escorted the plane away from populated areas, to finally land safely at Singapore Changi Airport at around 10:04 pm tonight,” Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He further explained that Singapore’s Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) systems and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams were also activated. The aircraft was handed over to Airport Police for further investigation.

Authorities in both Canada and Singapore are continuing their investigations, while security around commercial aviation remains on high alert. The international community is closely monitoring the situation as India, along with its global partners, works to ensure the safety of passengers amid these threats.