Air India flight diverted to Saudi Arabia due to bomb threat

On June 21, 2025, an Air India flight from Birmingham to New Delhi was diverted to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following a bomb threat. The aircraft landed safely in Riyadh, where it underwent thorough security checks to ensure the safety of the passengers and crew aboard. Despite the disruption caused by this incident, a spokesperson for Air India expressed regret over the inconveniences faced by the passengers and mentioned that alternative arrangements were being made to transport them to their original destinations. This incident marks another challenge for Air India, as the airline continues to face scrutiny and pressure following a tragic crash near Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, which resulted in the loss of at least 270 lives. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of India has mandated enhanced inspections of the airline's Boeing 787 and 777 fleets, forcing the airline to temporarily cancel or reduce many international flights. In an effort to prioritize safety checks, Air India has also cut its international flight operations by 15%. Bomb threats have become increasingly frequent in India, contributing to significant disruptions in air travel. Reports indicate that nearly 1,000 hoax threats were logged between January and November of the previous year, a drastic increase from the preceding year's figures. The incident surrounding flight AI114 follows a series of other bomb-related disruptions, including an IndiGo flight that was diverted due to a hoax email and another Air India flight that returned mid-route after a bomb note was discovered. The current spate of incidents raises concerns about flight safety and operational protocols within Indian airlines. In addition to the ongoing investigations into the Ahmedabad crash—where international aviation authorities from the UK, US, Boeing, and General Electric are involved—Air India has reported that several passengers and crew members experienced suspected food poisoning on a flight from London to Mumbai just days after the bomb threat incident. As Air India navigates these operational and reputational challenges, the airline's management continues to pledge measures aimed at enhancing safety and restoring passenger confidence.