New Delhi: Indian Air Force fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a foreign aircraft with its origin in Iran that was moving towards the New Delhi airspace. According Air Traffic Control (ATC), on way from Tehran, Iran to Guangzhou in China, Mahan Air contacted Delhi airport ATC after the airline received a bomb threat for an immediate landing at Delhi. Delhi ATC suggested the aircraft to go to Jaipur but the aircraft pilot refused & left Indian airspace.Also Read – Bomb Threat on IndiGo Flight at Mumbai Airport Turns Out to be Hoax, Security Agencies on High Alert
IAF Su-30MKI JETS SCRAMBLED
The foreign aircraft was headed to China and had entered Indian airspace when the alert from Indian Air Traffic Control was shared with the plane. Indian Air Force Su-30MKI fighter jets from Punjab and Jodhpur airbases were scrambled to intercept the plane, sources told ANI.
AIRCRAFT MOVING TOWARDS CHINA
The nature of the bomb threat or the name of the Iranian commercial carrier is still unclear. However, after clearance, the aircraft is now moving towards China and at the time of filing this report, it was over Indian airspace and is being closely monitored by security agencies. The plane is continuing on its flight path towards China.
TRACK CHINA BOUND MAHAN FLIGHT THAT RECEIVED A BOMB THREAT
Flightradar24 have provided a link to live track the Mahan Air flight that didn’t land in India after a bomb threat
IAF ISSUES STATEMENT
According IAF sources, as reported by ANI, IAF jets were following it maintaining a safe distance as per SOPs. However, the aircraft was allowed to continue on its flight towards China after Iranian agencies asked us to disregard the threat. IAF jets continued to follow it closely till the time it left Indian airspace.