Bomb threat called off after security checks at Delhi airport

Three international flights received bomb threats in the early hours of Saturday here at the Delhi airport. However, the emergency has been called off after the security checks.

A Jet Airways and a Cathay Pacific flight bound for Hong Kong were already airborne when both had to return to the Delhi international airport and sent to isolation bay, sources said. Cathay Pacific flight has taken off for the destination while Jet Airways flight will soon depart, sources said.

Sources said another Zurich-bound Swissair flight was already at the airport when the bomb threat was received and the aircraft was sent to the isolation bay. The flight has departed for its destination after due checks.

“After the baggage reconciliation and due checks the emergency was called off,” sources said.

“Jet Airways flight 9W 78, which departed from Delhi at 1.27 am for Hong Kong, returned to Delhi due to security reasons. The aircraft with 194 guests and 12 crew on board landed safely in Delhi at 0224 hrs. All guests and crew disembarked without any incident and were taken to the airport terminal. Safety of our guests is our number one priority. We regret the inconvenience caused to the guests,” a Jet Airways spokesperson said.

In July, a Bangkok-Istanbul flight of the Turkish Airlines had also made an emergency landing at the Delhi airport. Security agencies had later concluded that the bomb threat was a hoax and the plane took off for Istanbul.