Bomb threat on Pune-bound Vistara flight prompts evacuation; inspection underway

A bomb threat was reported on a Pune-bound Vistara flight from Delhi, forcing the evacuation of passengers and a thorough inspection of the aircraft.

The incident caused a temporary disruption at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. The bomb threat was received earlier today via a call made to the GMR call centre. The call was received at 7.30am when boarding was underway, according to people familiar with the matter.

As a precautionary measure, passengers were swiftly deboarded from the aircraft and moved to a safe distance.

Passengers are calm and are being taken care of by the cabin crew with drinks and snacks, said a person familiar with the matter. The flight should take off immediately after a go-ahead from authorities, the person said, asking not to be named.

“We confirm that the flight UK971, scheduled to fly from Delhi to Pune on 18 August 2023 is delayed due to mandatory security checks. We have been cooperating with the relevant security agencies for the same. In the meanwhile, we are making all efforts to minimize inconvenience to our customers including offering them refreshments. At Vistara, safety and security of our customers and crew is of utmost importance to us,” a spokesperson for Vistara said in a statement.

As of now, authorities have not confirmed the credibility of the bomb threat.