Air India official says bomb threat on Mumbai-Newark flight was a hoax: Reuters (Representational photo)

Highlights The US-bound Air India flight made an unscheduled landing in London

It was escorted by fighter jets of the Royal Air Force

Air India official says bomb threat was hoax, plane back in air: Reuters

A US-bound Air India flight made an unscheduled landing in London -- escorted by fighter jets of the Royal Air Force -- for what the airline initially called a "bomb threat". Minutes later, the tweet was deleted without any update being offered. News agency ANI quoted an Air India official to say the bomb threat was a hoax.

"Air India 191 Mumbai-Newark flight has landed safely at London and all passengers are safe. Earlier, the flight had made a precautionary landing due to a bomb threat that was declared hoax," ANI quoted an Air India spokesperson as saying.

The landing at London's Stansted airport was confirmed almost immediately by the British authorities. The Air India Boeing 777 "diverted into the airport at 10:15 hrs and landed safely with the Essex Police in attendance," a statement from the airport read.



"Our runway has now re-opened and is fully operational following a precautionary landing of Air India flight. We are sorry for any disruption caused by the incident and would like to thank you for your patience," the statement added.

Quoting UK's Ministry of defence, Reuters reported that Typhoon aircraft were deployed at supersonic speed to intercept a civilian plane.



Reuters later tweeted, "Air India official says bomb threat on Mumbai-Newark flight was a hoax, plane back in the air". The hoax call was received at Mumbai airport, the official said, adding that there is no security threat, Reuters reported.

(With inputs from Reuters)