NEW DELHI: An Indian passenger plane was forced to make an emergency landing in the country's western city of Nagpur on Saturday after a hoax bomb threat, GoAir airline said.

The GoAir plane, carrying 150 passengers, was en route from the eastern city of Bhubaneshwar to Mumbai when authorities received an anonymous call that a bomb had been planted aboard.

“Post receiving the bomb threat call, it [the aircraft] was diverted to Nagpur,” GoAir said in an email statement.

The passengers were offloaded and airport security searched the aircraft and baggage, the budget airline said.

According to the statement, “there was no bomb found on board the aircraft” and passengers “are now being boarded” after the plane was authorised to take off again for Mumbai.

The carrier said local police were investigating the threat.

The emergency landing comes one day after India's counter-terror police arrested a group of suspected Islamist radicals in a series of nationwide raids.

The National Investigation Agency said on Friday that bomb-making material was also seized in the raids conducted in four different states, amid stepped up security for next week's Republic Day celebrations.

French President Francois Hollande will be the guest of honour at a Republic Day military parade on Tuesday in the capital New Delhi.

Republic Day marks the anniversary of India's democratic constitution taking force in 1950.

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

PAKISTAN has now registered 50 polio cases this year. We all saw it coming and yet there was nothing we could do to...
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...