Air India Flight AI188 Faces Bomb Threat, Lands Safely in Delhi

Air India flight AI188, en route from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, was targeted with a bomb threat on November 13, 2025, while cruising at 35,000 feet over the Atlantic. The alert was received by Delhi Police via digital channels early Thursday morning, prompting an immediate high-level security response and activation of the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) at Delhi airport.

Upon receiving the message claiming an explosive device was on board, authorities swiftly assessed the threat as "non-specific" — a classification indicating no credible evidence or specific details were provided. Despite the vague nature of the warning, full emergency protocols were enacted. The flight crew, trained for such contingencies, executed all mandated security drills mid-air, maintaining calm while keeping passenger safety as the utmost priority.

The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, carrying over 250 passengers and crew, completed its 15-hour transatlantic journey without deviation and landed safely at Delhi’s IGI Airport at approximately 3:40 pm IST. Upon touchdown, the plane was directed to a remote bay for isolation, where Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) commandos, bomb disposal squads, and dog units conducted thorough checks. All passengers were deplaned safely through secure channels, with no injuries reported.

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An Air India spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating: "A security alert was communicated regarding flight AI188 during cruise. The crew followed all laid-down protocols with utmost diligence. The aircraft has undergone mandatory security clearance, and normal operations will resume post-verification." The airline is cooperating fully with investigating agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has taken cognizance of the threat.

This incident unfolds against the backdrop of heightened national security following the deadly November 10 car bomb explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort Metro station, which claimed 13 lives and injured over 20. In response, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has mandated enhanced screening measures nationwide, including 100% secondary ladder point checks, frisking of transit passengers, and increased deployment of anti-sabotage teams — protocols now rigorously applied to AI188 and all incoming international flights.

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