Air India Mumbai-New York Flight Returns Mid-Air Due to Security Threat

Mumbai, 10th March 2025: An Air India flight from Mumbai to New York (JFK) was forced to return to its departure city over eight hours after takeoff on Monday morning due to a security threat. The Boeing 777, carrying more than 320 passengers, was en route as AI 119 when it turned back while flying over Azerbaijan. The aircraft, which had taken off at 1:43 am, landed safely in Mumbai at 10:25 am.

An Air India spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating, “A possible security threat was identified mid-flight on AI119 from Mumbai to New York (JFK) on March 10, 2025. As a precautionary measure, following established safety protocols, the flight returned to Mumbai to ensure the well-being of all on board. The aircraft landed safely at 10:25 am local time. Security agencies are conducting mandatory checks, and Air India is fully cooperating with the authorities.”

The airline also announced that the flight has been rescheduled for departure at 5 am on March 11, 2025. Passengers have been provided with hotel accommodations, meals, and necessary assistance during the delay. “Our teams on the ground are working to minimize the inconvenience caused to travelers. Passenger and crew safety remains Air India’s highest priority,” the spokesperson added.

In recent months, several Indian and international flights operating to and from India have been disrupted by hoax threat messages. These incidents have led to significant schedule disruptions, causing inconvenience to passengers and financial losses for airlines.