Summary
- Akasa Air Flight QP1148 was diverted to Mumbai as a consequence of a bomb threat by a passenger, but no suspicious object was present in the passenger’s bag.
- The flight crew followed safety protocols and made an emergency landing, ensuring the security of all passengers and crew.
- Law enforcement authorities are investigating the incident to find out the motive behind the false bomb threat.
Akasa Air Flight QP1148, performing scheduled service between Pune (PNQ) and Delhi (DEL), was diverted to Mumbai (BOM) as a consequence of a bomb threat. Throughout the flight, one passenger claimed he was carrying a bomb in his bag. The aircraft made an emergency landing lower than one hour after departure. All passengers and crew were protected, and the authorities are investigating the incident.
Akasa Air’s diverted flight
On October 20, Akasa Air Flight QP1148, operated on a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft (Registration VT-YAO), made an emergency landing in BOM following a bomb threat by a passenger. Data from FlightRadar24.com showed that the aircraft took off from PNQ barely behind schedule at 00:06 local time. The Delhi-bound flight was carrying 185 passengers when the incident happened. A passenger on the flight reportedly said,
“I actually have a bomb in my bag.”
The flight crew followed the airline safety protocol, diverting the aircraft for an emergency landing. Before landing, the aircraft briefly performed a level flight at 8,000 ft (2,440 m) towards Mumbai.
Photo: Akasa Air
Based on an official statement from Akasa Air published in Outlook,
“Akasa Air flight QP 1148, flying from Pune to Delhi at 12.07 am on October 21, 2023, and carrying 185 passengers and 6 crew members on board, received a security alert shortly after take-off. As per safety and security procedures, the plane was diverted to Mumbai. The Captain followed all required emergency procedures and landed safely at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 12.42 am.”
The bomb detection team was called
A Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads (BDDS) team was dispatched to the aircraft upon its arrival in Mumbai. The team promptly checked the passenger’s bag, but nothing was found. The law enforcement authorities also arrived on the scene. There was no suspicious object present in the passenger’s bag. Outlook published the statement from a police official involved within the investigation,
“The CISF officer informed the Mumbai Police Control concerning the incident at around 2.30 am after which the baggage of the passenger of that flight was searched. The BDDS team in addition to law enforcement officials were also present there. But in the course of the investigation the police didn’t find any suspicious object there.”
Photo: Yatrik Sheth | Shutterstock
It’s going to be a while until the law enforcement authorities find the motive behind the passenger’s false bomb threat. The flight continued to Delhi five hours later.
A previous incident involving a passenger
Last month, a passenger flying Akasa Air’s flight from Delhi to Goa released her pet dog mid-flight, creating panic amongst fellow travelers. The airline allows pets onboard its flights under some conditions. Nonetheless, passengers must abide by all safety regulations during flight. The passenger violated the airline rules by letting the dog out of its carrier. The airline filed a police criticism against the passenger.
What are your thoughts on the incident involving Akasa Air flight from Pune to Delhi? Have you ever traveled with the airline? Share your experience within the comments section.
Source: Outlook India