Mumbai – Sep 29- 2023 : An Akasa Air aircraft, carrying 166 passengers and crew, made an emergency landing at Varanasi airport today following a bomb threat received via social media, as confirmed by an airline spokesperson.
Flight QP 1498, en route from Mumbai to Varanasi, experienced the emergency situation when the captain received an “emergency alert” from the Varanasi Air Traffic Controller. The pilot swiftly executed all required emergency procedures, ensuring the safe landing of the aircraft in Varanasi.
“At 11:30 am, Akasa Air received a bomb threat message on social media. We immediately notified local authorities in Mumbai and initiated the process of filing an FIR,” the spokesperson explained.
In response, the airline activated its emergency response mechanism and, as part of the security protocol, alerted all 16 airports where it operates regarding the bomb threat, placing them on high alert.
The airline later classified the threat as “non-specific.”
The Akasa Air flight included 166 individuals, comprising 159 passengers, one infant, and six operating crew members on the Mumbai-Varanasi route.
Varanasi Airport Director Puneet Gupta reported that a thorough security check was conducted, revealing nothing objectionable, and the aircraft was officially declared safe.
In a statement, the airline reassured the public, saying, “Akasa Air flight QP 1498, flying from Mumbai to Varanasi on September 29, 2023, received an emergency alert from Air Traffic Control. The captain followed all required emergency procedures and landed safely in Varanasi.”
The airline confirmed that all mandated security procedures have been diligently completed, and the aircraft has been officially cleared as safe.
