IAF scrambles jets after bomb threat in Iranian plane, lands safely in China

Iranian airliner Mahan Air’s Tehran to Guangzhou flight arrived safely and on time at its Chinese destination and the bomb scare onboard was a fake one, said an Iranian news agency.

In a statement on Twitter, Mahan Air said the Airbus A340 passenger plane landed safely, and on time in Guangzhou and that the scare was fake.

“Our Airbus 340 passenger plane was travelling from Tehran to Guangzhou in China, and as soon as the pilot learned about the possibility of an in-flight bomb, he informed relevant authorities. The Mahan operation control centre discerned that the threat was fabricated and the flight continued its journey in full safety,” Mahan Air said in a statement.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Monday morning scrambled fighter jets to shadow the Iranian flight. While the pilot requested to land in Delhi at the IGI Airport, IAF and ATC gave them an option to land at the Jaipur and Chandigarh airports in the vicinity of the Delhi Airport. The pilot chose to continue to fly to China’s Guangzhou when asked to land in Jaipur or Chandigarh following inputs from Lahore’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) about a possible bomb threat.

“It seems that reports of a bomb onboard the plane during current international and domestic conditions was aimed at disrupting security and peace of mind,” the statement added.

“IAF fighter aircraft were scrambled, which followed the aircraft at a safe distance. The aircraft was offered the option to land at Jaipur & then, at Chandigarh,” the IAF said in a statement, referring to two airports in northern India.

Intimation was received from Lahore on the plane bearing Iranian registration, when it was transiting through Indian airspace. IAF fighter aircraft were scrambled, which followed the aircraft at a safe distance.

-INDIA NEWS STREAM