Air India flight 191 from Mumbai to Newark made an emergency landing at London’s Stansted Airport on June 27 due to a bomb threat. Fortunately, the threat was found to be a hoax, and there have been no injuries to passengers or damage to the aircraft. 

The airline received a threat at Mumbai International Airport while the flight was still in the air. The aircraft was immediately ordered to land, as the airline was concerned about the threat being legitimate, and Air India has experienced real bomb attacks onboard its aircraft in the past, leading it to be extra cautious around bomb threats. The aircraft operating the flight is one of the airline’s Boeing 777-300ERs, registered as VT-ALK and named Chattisgarh. 

The aircraft is 11.7 years old and was delivered to the airline in October 2007.

The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence stated that fighter jets escorted the aircraft to the airport for its emergency landing. Additionally, London Stansted Airport stated that the aircraft landed safely at 10:15 AM on June 27 with Essex Police in attendance to meet the aircraft upon arrival. Due to the aircraft’s dangerous potential, the flight was parked at a remote stand away from the rest of the airport’s operations to ensure safety in the event of a bomb detonation. 

Residents of Derby, a city 120 miles north of London reported a loud bang as the fighter jets escorting the aircraft broke the sound barrier as they were scrambled to meet the Boeing jet. “The Typhoon aircraft were authorized to transit at supersonic speed for operational reasons; any inconvenience caused to local residents is regretted,” stated an RAF spokesperson.