Pune-Delhi Akasa Air Flight Lands At Mumbai Airport After Bomb Threat

A Pune-Delhi Akasa Air flight was diverted to Mumbai after it received a security alert following which it landed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport

A Delhi-bound Akasa Air flight from Pune was diverted to Mumbai and landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport following a security alert shortly after take-off last night, says the airline company, reported ANI. According to media reports, a passenger onboard the plane claimed to have a bomb in his bag. 

Soon after the matter came forth, the flight with 185 passengers made an emergency landing at the Mumbai Airport on Saturday within 40 minutes after take-off, reported Hindustan Times. 

"At around 2.30 am today a CISF officer informed the Mumbai Police Control, after which the luggage of the passenger of that flight was searched in the presence of the Bomb Detection and Disposable Squad (BDDS) team, as well as police officers. But during an investigation the police did not find any suspicious object," a police officer said, as per HT.

Meanwhile, as per HT, Akasa Airlines confirmed the incident in a statement. 

"Akasa Air flight QP 1148, flying from Pune to Delhi at 00:07 hrs on October 21, 2023, and carrying 185 passengers and six crew members on board, received a security alert shortly after take-off. As per safety and security procedures, the plane was diverted to Mumbai. The Captain followed all required emergency procedures and landed safely at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 00:42 hrs," the airline said.

After receiving police clearance, the flight left for Delhi from Mumbai Airport around 6 am. According to an India Today report, a person travelling along with the man, who claimed he had a bomb in his bag, said that he had taken medicine for chest pain and was just blabbering anything.

The man was taken to the hospital in an ambulance after the plane landed at the Mumbai airport. Mumbai Police is further investigating the matter.

This comes amid the sudden exits of pilots that the airline has been witnessing recently. Founder and CEO of Akasa Air, Vinay Dube told PTI that the airline had about 330 pilots in April and around 40 went away without serving the notice period or with one day, two days or less than 24 hours notice.