Mumbai: An Air India flight traveling from Mumbai to New York was forced to return to Mumbai after receiving a bomb threat on Monday (March 10) morning, according to agency sources.

The flight, AI119, with 322 passengers and 19 crew members on board, safely returned to Mumbai after a potential security threat was identified mid-flight.

According to sources, a bomb threat was discovered in one of the aircraft’s lavatories, prompting the flight crew to follow established safety protocols.

Air India confirmed in a statement that the flight, a Boeing 777-300 ER, was safely back in Mumbai by 10:25 am local time.

"A potential security threat was detected mid-flight on AI119 operating Mumbai-New York (JFK) today, 10 March 2025. After following the necessary protocols, the flight air-returned to Mumbai, in the interest of the safety and security of all on board," agency quoted Air India as saying in a statement.

The agency said there was a bomb threat and a note was found in one of the lavatories of the plane.

A passenger spotted the note with the message "There is a bomb in the flight" written on it inside the toilet and alerted the crew, a Sahar police official told the agency.

"Nothing suspicious has been found (so far) and we are conducting the investigation," the official said, adding they were in the process of registering an FIR against unidentified person in connection with the matter.

The airline reassured passengers that the flight would be rescheduled to depart on March 11, 2025, at 5:00 am, reported the agency.

In the meantime, passengers have been provided with hotel accommodations, meals, and other necessary assistance.

Air India added that its ground staff is working hard to minimize any inconvenience caused to passengers by the disruption.
-B