The aviation industry is facing a tumultuous period, particularly for India's flag carrier, Air India, with recent events involving technical issues and bomb threats causing significant disruptions to international flights. These incidents, coupled with a recent fatal plane crash, have heightened concerns about air travel safety and the operational integrity of airlines.
Adding to Air India's woes, on June 16, 2025, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating as flight AI315 from Hong Kong to Delhi, was compelled to return to its origin shortly after takeoff due to a suspected technical issue. The flight, which was already delayed by three hours, landed safely back in Hong Kong, and is undergoing thorough checks as a precautionary measure. Air India has stated that alternative arrangements are being made to fly the passengers to Delhi as soon as possible and that they are providing necessary on-ground assistance to minimize inconvenience. This incident follows closely on the heels of a devastating crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, where an Air India flight crashed shortly after takeoff, killing 241 of the 242 people on board. The flight, also a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, was bound for London.
Adding to the disruption, an Air India flight from Phuket to New Delhi made an emergency landing in Thailand on June 13, 2025, following a bomb threat. Flight AI 379, carrying 156 passengers, had taken off from Phuket when the threat was received, prompting the aircraft to return to the southern Thai island. All passengers were safely evacuated, and a thorough security screening was conducted. While preliminary investigations found no explosives, Thai authorities are questioning the passenger who reported the threat. This incident is part of a broader pattern of increasing bomb threats targeting Indian airlines.
In October 2024, a series of hoax bomb threats caused significant disruptions to multiple Indian carriers, including Air India, IndiGo, and Vistara. These threats led to emergency responses and rerouting of flights. On October 15, 2024, Air India flight AI127 from Delhi to Chicago was diverted to Iqaluit Airport in Canada due to a bomb threat. Similarly, on October 17, 2024, Air India flight AI129 from Mumbai to London Heathrow encountered a bomb threat, leading to an interception by a Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jet.
The increase in bomb threats has prompted Indian authorities to consider legislative actions to deter such incidents, including placing perpetrators on no-fly lists and amending the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation Act (SUASCA) to allow for arrests and investigations without a court order when an aircraft is on the ground.
These recent events have collectively raised serious questions about the safety and maintenance standards within Air India and the broader Indian aviation sector. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has called for enhanced inspection checks and surveillance of all Boeing flights owned by Air India following the Ahmedabad plane crash. The government has also constituted a high-level panel to investigate the crash, focusing on possible technical failures, maintenance records, and crew actions. The inquiry committee includes senior officials from the DGCA, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), and independent aviation safety experts.
With passengers and crew safety of utmost importance, the aviation industry is under immense pressure to ensure rigorous safety checks, enhanced security measures, and transparent communication to restore public confidence in air travel.
