Thiruvananthapuram: An emergency was declared at Thiruvananthapuram Airport on Thursday morning after an Air India flight from Mumbai received a bomb threat. The aircraft landed safely at approximately 8 a.m. and was promptly directed to an isolation bay for precautionary measures. All 135 passengers were evacuated safely by 8:44 a.m.

The pilot reported the threat around 7:30 a.m. as the flight approached Thiruvananthapuram. Following the alert, the airport declared a full emergency at 7:36 a.m. Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries, and airport operations continue without disruption.

The origin of the bomb threat and additional details are still under investigation. An Air India spokesperson confirmed that the flight, Air India AI657, was parked in a remote bay for mandatory security checks and that all passengers and crew members disembarked safely.

This incident follows a pattern of recent hoax bomb threats that have caused significant disruptions. For example, in June, a 13-year-old boy was detained for falsely claiming a bomb was planted on a Dubai-bound flight from Delhi. Additionally, multiple airports and hospitals across India have recently faced similar hoax threats, leading to extensive security checks and investigations.

Hoax threats, which disrupt travel and necessitate thorough inspections, have led to calls for stricter penalties. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has suggested a five-year flying ban for those convicted of making such threats.

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