'Inappropriate...': US Raises Concerns Over Bomb Threats to Air India Flights

Washington: The United States on Tuesday condemned any threats against commercial aviation as unacceptable, after multiple Air India flights, including those bound for Chicago and New York, received bomb threats.

One such flight from New Delhi to Chicago was forced to make an emergency landing at Iqaluit Airport in Canada. Another flight from Mumbai to New York returned to New Delhi, while fighter jets were scrambled for a plane en route to Singapore. 

For several months, separatist Sikh groups, composed primarily of American and Canadian citizens, have been openly calling for attacks on Air India flights.

"Any kind of threats against commercial aviation are inappropriate and are taken very seriously by our law enforcement agencies," said State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller during a press briefing. “I would refer to law enforcement agencies, particularly the Department of Justice, to address this matter further.”

Air India, in a statement, noted that several other airlines have been targeted by similar threats recently. Although all these threats were later determined to be hoaxes, the airline emphasized that it takes such warnings seriously.

The airline pledged full cooperation with authorities to identify those responsible for the threats and stated that it would consider legal action to recover damages for the disruption and inconvenience caused to passengers.

With inputs from PTI.