Air India’s New York-bound flight returns due to ‘security threat’

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) - An Air India flight en route from Mumbai to New York returned to its take-off destination after a “potential security threat” detected mid-air, the airline said on Monday.

A spokesperson said its flight AI119 returned to Mumbai in the “interest of the safety and security of all on board.”

The flight landed safely back in Mumbai at 10.25 a.m. local time, the spokesperson said, adding that the aircraft was undergoing mandatory checks by security agencies.

“Air India is extending its full cooperation to the authorities,” the statement said. The flight was rescheduled to depart early Tuesday morning.

Indian news broadcaster NDTV said the plane was flying over Azerbaijan when it changed course and returned to Mumbai. Following its landing, bomb-detection procedures were carried out, and the threat alert was found to be a hoax.