'Bomb in bag': Delhi-bound Akasa Air flight makes emergency landing in Mumbai after passenger's claim

An Akasa Air flight from Pune to Delhi had to make an emergency landing at Mumbai airport after a passenger claimed that he had a bomb in his bag. The aircraft was carrying 185 passengers, officials said on Saturday.

The emergency landing was made at around 12.42 am after 40 minutes of takeoff from the Pune airport, the airline said in a statement. The flight took off for Delhi at 6 am after the bomb claim turned out to be a hoax. A team of the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) was called and the passenger’s bag was checked.

"Akasa Air flight QP 1148, flying from Pune to Delhi at 00:07 hrs on October 21, 2023, and carrying 185 passengers and six 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 00:42 hrs," the airline confirmed the incident in a statement.

Speaking about the incident, a police officer said, “At around 2.30 am today a CISF officer informed the Mumbai Police Control, after which the luggage of the passenger of that flight was searched in the presence of Bomb Detection and Disposable Squad (BDDS) team, as well as police officers. But during an investigation the police did not find any suspicious object.”