An Air India flight bound for Chicago made an emergency landing in the Arctic city of Iqaluit, Canada, early on Tuesday after receiving a false bomb threat. The flight, carrying 211 crew and passengers, landed safely at Iqaluit Airport, approximately 300km from the Arctic Circle.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed the threat was relayed to the captain from a person in India. Air India stated that the aircraft and passengers were being re-screened according to security protocols, and assistance was provided to passengers until their journey could resume.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Canada and India, following accusations by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that India was involved in the assassination of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year. The airline noted that it had faced a number of threats in recent days, including a false bomb threat on a flight from Mumbai to New York on Monday.
The threat also revives memories of the 1985 Air India bombing, when a flight from Montreal exploded off the coast of Ireland, killing 329 people, including 280 Canadians. A second bomb detonated at Tokyo's Narita airport, killing two baggage handlers. Canadian authorities faced criticism for downplaying threats at the time.
