IndiGo Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Nagpur After Bomb Threat; Air India Faces Further Flight Disruptions: Flights to London and Paris canceled

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, June 17, 2025, Kolkata: A Delhi-bound IndiGo flight with 157 passengers on board made an emergency landing in Nagpur on Tuesday following a bomb threat. The flight, which had originated from Muscat, was en route to Delhi after a scheduled stop in Kochi. According to the Cochin International Airport Ltd. (CIAL), the bomb threat was received through the official email of the airport, prompting immediate communication with relevant authorities. Following protocol, the flight made the emergency landing at Nagpur’s Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, where all passengers safely disembarked. An IndiGo spokesperson confirmed that a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) was convened, and the threat was deemed “specific.” The airline assured that it is fully cooperating with the authorities in conducting necessary security checks before allowing the aircraft to resume operations.

The incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding air travel safety, especially following recent bomb threats and other security alerts. 

On the same day, another aviation disruption unfolded as Air India, which has been struggling with operational issues, saw its flights to London and Paris canceled. A technical snag in a Boeing 777-200 LR forced Air India to deplane passengers during a stopover in Kolkata, while its Delhi-Paris flight was canceled due to issues identified during pre-flight checks. This crisis comes just days after a tragic incident involving an Air India flight that crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12, killing over 270 people. In response to the mounting disruptions, Air India confirmed that alternative arrangements and full refunds would be provided to affected passengers.

Despite the airline's efforts to resume operations, including the resumption of flights from Ahmedabad to London on June 16, Air India faced further setbacks with its scheduled Ahmedabad-London and San Francisco-Mumbai routes. The cancellation of the Ahmedabad-London flight was due to airspace restrictions and precautionary checks, while the San Francisco-Mumbai flight had to be terminated after a technical issue with its engine was detected during a stopover in Kolkata. Passengers, already rattled by the recent crash, expressed concern and frustration as they were left waiting for updates and new flight arrangements.

The situation highlights not only the persistent safety and operational challenges faced by Indian airlines but also the ongoing scrutiny in the aftermath of the Ahmedabad crash. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash, as both Air India and IndiGo work to address the safety and logistical issues affecting their flights. Meanwhile, the air travel community remains on high alert for any further developments.

A Lufthansa flight (LH752) from Frankfurt, Germany, to Hyderabad, India, made a U-turn mid-air on Sunday evening. The flight, which had taken off at 2:14 PM local time from Frankfurt, initially triggered concerns when it was reported that the plane had turned back due to a bomb threat. However, Lufthansa later clarified that the decision to return to Frankfurt was not related to any security threat but rather because it had not been granted "landing clearance" by Hyderabad's air traffic control.

The flight, which was en route to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, had to return to its origin airport following the unexpected denial of clearance. Lufthansa officials confirmed the technical issue with air traffic control as the reason for the diversion. While there were no immediate details on the nature of the clearance problem, the situation raised alarm among passengers and caused some confusion at the time of the incident.

The flight safely landed back in Frankfurt, and passengers were provided further assistance and information. Lufthansa assured that all necessary arrangements were being made to transport the passengers to their destination, though the flight’s return led to considerable delays. No injuries or damages were reported.

This incident is an ongoing development, and aviation authorities are expected to review the case to prevent similar occurrences in the future.