IAF fighter jets were scrambled from Jodhpur and Punjab to intercept an Iranian aircraft following reports that a bomb was on board. The bomb threat was received when the plane, headed to China, entered Indian airspace on Monday.
Inputs were received by security agencies in Delhi about the possibility of a bomb on board, which triggered an alert. Mahan Air contacted the Delhi airport’s Air Traffic Control after the airline received a bomb threat for an immediate landing there, an ATC source told ANI.
Permission for an immediate landing at Delhi was denied, and ground forces were activated following the bomb threat.
‘Bomb threat’ onboard Iranian passenger jet over Indian airspace, with final destination in China, triggers alert, IAF jets scrambled. The passenger jet is now moving towards China. Security agencies monitoring the plane: Sources pic.twitter.com/5Up2fHURxW
— ANI (@ANI) October 3, 2022
Two Su-30MKI fighter jets were scrambled to intercept the plane, top government sources told India Today TV. The nature of the bomb threat is still unclear.
However, the aircraft was later allowed to move towards its destination, China, after clearance. Security agencies are keeping a close watch on the plane and its route towards China over the Indian airspace, with all air stations of the IAF and aviation units on alert.