A Delta flight from Amsterdam to Mumbai landed under emergency conditions at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport Thursday after an unidentified object was discovered in the aircraft’s cargo, Indian broadcaster NDTV reported.
All 244 passengers departed the aircraft which landed at 11pm local time Thursday. The plane was then taken to an isolated area and searched by an anti-explosives squad.
“Upon landing in Mumbai, we requested a precautionary rescreeening of a cargo shipment onboard flight 70,” Delta said in a statement. “All passengers were safely deplaned and we are cooperating with authorities in their assessment.”
Headlines Today, another Indian TV station, reported that an all clear had been given at the airport and emergency conditions surrounding Delta Flight 70 had been lifted.
The plane began its journey in New York City Wednesday en route to Amsterdam, Fox News reported. It traveled from there to Mumbai Thursday.
Details about the size of the object and the nature of the threat were not immediately available.
President Barack Obama departs for India Friday on a 10-day, four-nation trip that also includes visits to Indonesia, Japan and South Korea. The president is due to arrive in Mumbai Saturday.
Authorities have been on high alert since last week, when two explosive-laden US-bound packages sent from Yemen were intercepted at UPS and FedEx facilities in the UK and Dubai.