‘Operation Badala’ tweet forces Jet Airways flight to make emergency landing in Muscat

According to the Central Industry Security Force (CISF), around 1.31 pm, Mumbai International Airport private Limited (MIAL) general manager Balvir Singh received a message from Jet Airways staffer that her staff had come across a tweet on Twitter by one Surinder Pratap of Punjab Ludhiyana. The tweet read: “BOMB SPOTTED IN JET AIRWAYS 9W 536 FROM MUMBAI TO DUBAI DEP. AT 1225 FROM CSIA…..OPERATION Badala”.

At 1.45pm, a Bomb Threat Action Committee (BTAC) was formed at Mumbai airport and within six minutes, the committee unanimously decided the threat as a “specific threat message”. The Mumbai ATC then informed the Muscat ATC about the bomb threat at 1.55pm and the flight got diverted to Muscat and landed at 2.50pm.

“Jet Airways flight 9W 536, which departed from Mumbai at 1246 hrs for Dubai, was diverted to Muscat due to a bomb threat. The aircraft with 54 guests and 7 crew on board landed safely in Muscat at 1320 hrs local time (1450 hrs India). All guests and crew disembarked without any incident and were taken to the airport terminal. After a thorough search by the Omani security agencies the aircraft was cleared for onward journey. The flight departed Muscat at 1945 hrs local time (2115 hrs India) for Dubai.

We regret the inconvenience caused to the guests and thank them for their patience, calmness and understanding,” said a Jet Airways spokesperson.

The cyber cell of the Mumbai police said it will probe the matter. “We have not been approached by Jet Airways as yet, but the Cyber Crime Investigation Cell will look into the matter,” said Dhananjay Kulkarni, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection).