KLM Flight Faces Bomb Threat at Hyderabad; Air India Boeing 777 Makes Emergency

A KLM Airlines flight arriving at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad was the target of a bomb threat email on Monday morning. The flight, originating from Amsterdam, landed safely at approximately 1:00 am after the threat was received around midnight, according to airport officials. This incident is the latest in a series of Hyderabad airport security alerts that have recently disrupted flight operations.

Authorities immediately activated standard aviation security protocols for the inbound aircraft. Following a thorough inspection, the threat was determined to be a hoax, and all passengers and crew were confirmed safe. The repeated incidents highlight the aviation security challenges India faces from anonymous threats.

Escalating Security Threats at Hyderabad Airport

The threat to the KLM Airlines flight follows a pattern of similar incidents at RGIA in December.

Days earlier, the airport received emails targeting three other flights: IndiGo flight 6E 7178 (Kannur to Hyderabad), Lufthansa flight LH 752 (Frankfurt to Hyderabad), and British Airways flight BA 277 (Heathrow to Hyderabad). All three aircraft landed safely after security protocols were initiated.

• A week prior, the airport went on high alert after four hoax bomb threats VPN emails were sent within a 12-hour period.
• Officials noted that three of those threats targeted inbound flights, with one aircraft forced to execute an air turnback to its departure airport.
• The threat emails are reportedly sent anonymously using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and non-Gmail mailing services.

The increased frequency of these international flight bomb threat messages is putting significant pressure on security units. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel are managing mandatory bomb-checking protocols alongside existing operational disruptions, including ongoing IndiGo flight cancellation issues.

Air India Technical Emergency Landing

On the same day, a separate safety incident occurred involving an Air India flight. Flight AI887, a Mumbai-bound service from Delhi, was forced to return to the national capital shortly after takeoff.

Key Details of the Air Turnback

The flight, operated by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft carrying 335 passengers, was airborne for nearly an hour.

• The crew detected a technical issue, specifically an engine oil pressure drop on the right-hand engine (Engine No. 2).
• The pressure ultimately dropped to zero, prompting the flight crew to shut down the engine as per the Air turnback procedure and standard operating protocol.
• The aircraft made a safe emergency landing back at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed the crew's adherence to laid-down procedures and has initiated an investigation into the incident.

Industry Impact and Regulatory Response

The dual incidents underscore the diverse challenges facing commercial aviation in India, ranging from malicious security threats to technical safety issues. The repeated Hyderabad airport security alerts force airlines and airport operators to divert significant resources to security checks, causing delays and operational strain.

The DGCA aviation safety protocols and those of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) are under constant review. The government is reportedly planning amendments to the Aircraft Security Rules to include hoax threat culprits on the no-fly list, broadening the scope beyond unruly passengers.

For more commercial aviation news and updates on global flight operations, visit the dedicated news sections. The swift and safe handling of both the KLM bomb threat Hyderabad and the Air India Boeing 777 emergency landing demonstrates the effectiveness of established emergency procedures and crew training, ensuring passenger safety remains the top priority. text