Air India Phuket Flight Delayed: In a nightmare of over 100 passengers, including children and elderly individuals, an Air India flight has been stuck in Phuket for three days. The passengers have been stranded in Phuket, Thailand, for more than 80 hours due to repeated delays of an Air India flight to New Delhi. Passengers have expressed their frustration on social media, sharing details of their ordeal.

The flight was originally scheduled to depart for Delhi on the night of November 16. However, passengers were informed of a six-hour delay due to a technical issue. After hours of waiting at the airport, they were eventually asked to board the plane, only to be deboarded an hour later when the flight was cancelled.

Attempts to resolve the issue the following day also failed. The same aircraft was prepared for departure after repairs, but two-and-a-half hours into the flight, it was forced to return to Phuket due to another technical problem. The passengers have been stranded in Phuket since then.

Frustrated travellers, including families with elderly members and children, have taken to social media to document their ordeal and demand action from the airline.

Air India has reportedly provided accommodation for the stranded passengers and assured them of reimbursement for their troubles. According to a report by NDTV, the airline stated that some passengers have already been sent back, and about 40 individuals are expected to return by the evening.

As the situation unfolds, passengers are still awaiting a resolution to their prolonged ordeal.

Vistara Air-India Merger: Air India on Friday said Vistara routes and schedule as well as the in-flight experience will continue and the flights operated with Vistara planes will have the code ‘AI2’ post-merger. The merger of the two full-service carriers is scheduled to be completed on November 12, following which Singapore Airlines will have a 25.1 per cent stake in Air India. Vistara is a joint venture between Tata Group and Singapore Airlines.

Post the merger, the vintage ‘Maharaja’ will be retained through the frequent flyer programme of the integrated entity. “The existing members of Club Vistara will be seamlessly transferred to Air India’s Flying Returns program. With this merger, Flying Returns will also evolve into an all-new avatar ‘Maharaja Club’,” Air India said in the statement.

Reiterating that the experience offered by Vistara will continue for customers post-merger, Air India said Vistara will be identified by a special four-digit Air India code beginning with the digit ‘2’.

“For instance, UK 955 will become AI 2955 helping customers identify them while booking… after November 12,” the statement said.

Further, it said the routes and schedule operated by Vistara aircraft will continue to be the same, alongside the airline’s in-flight experience that includes the product and service such as menu and cutlery on the Vistara aircraft.

There are concerns in certain quarters on whether Vistara passengers will continue to get the same services like now, post-merger as Air India, which is in the transformation phase, has been facing certain service issues in recent times.

Air India, on October 2, also said that Vistara experience will remain post-merger.

On Wednesday, Vistara Chairman Bhaskar Bhat said the integrated entity will share the best practices of the two airlines and the livery of Vistara will stay for sometime.

The Air India-Vistara merger, announced in November 2022, will also see Singapore Airlines acquiring a 25.1 per cent stake in the merged entity.

New Delhi: Concerned over an alarming rise in the number of bomb hoaxes, the government is discussing multiple solutions to check this nuisance by adopting the best global practices and banning people making such threats from flying.

The civil aviation ministry is studying the best model available globally and it’s also in talks with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to strengthen the Indian model of handling such cases, said top government officials.

“This is inconvenience not just to passengers and airlines but for every stakeholder. The aviation and home ministries and security regulator Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) are working at multiple levels to not just check this menace but bring in enough punishments to discourage people from doing it,” said a top government official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Dealing with the threat

While the aviation ministry is bringing penal provisions for people involved in making these calls, the home ministry and security agencies are speaking to virtual private network (VPN) service providers to ascertain the location of these messages. The home ministry is also looking at rules under the existing cyber laws to deter people making such threats.

Most of these threats come through VPN, which encrypts data and masks IP addresses to create a secure connection between devices over the internet.

Indian airlines received over 27 bomb threats in four days through email, social media and calls and all of them turned out to be hoax. Today, two international flights—one each by IndiGo and Vistara—received bomb threat calls. Air India said five of their flights received threat calls today.

It could be a case where some hoax threat calls were made and others followed it, maybe just to inconvenience someone’s flight trip, a senior government official said. “Look at the case of the minor arrested by Mumbi police—we need to ensure that there are enough consequences built in in the system to deter such people,” the official added.

No punishment so far

The Mumbai Police detained the 17-year-old boy from Chhattisgarh—he is suspected of issuing a bomb threat to an Air India flight via social media.

Currently, aviation rules do not have any provision to penalize such people. The aviation ministry is looking at bringing in rules like adding such offenders to the no-fly list or banning them from flights for a long duration, the official said.

As of now, in case of any such threat, a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC), which is present at each airport, convenes to assess the threat. The committee comprises officials from the airport operator, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), BCAS, and the airline.

Factors such as the origin of the threat, specific details provided, and the timing of the message are evaluated. If a threat is classified as “non-specific”, the aircraft is not subjected to inspection. However, if the threat is deemed “specific”, flights are diverted to the nearest airport and then taken to an isolated bay, where passengers are evacuated and each and every luggage in the flight is checked. The aircraft is released for flight only after a thorough check

This set procedure won’t be reviewed and will continue to guide decisions on threat calls, officials said.

NEW DELHI: Five flights, including one bound for the United States, received bomb-threat messages through a social media handle on Tuesday, prompting security agencies to undertake specific counter-terrorist drills at various airports, official sources said. The threats via microblogging platform X came a day after three international flights originating from Mumbai received bomb threats, causing trouble to hundreds of passengers and airline crew. The messages posted on Monday were declared a hoax.

Two more flights received similar threats on Tuesday but a confirmation was awaited. The sources said an X handle issued threats on Tuesday to five flights — an Air India Express flight from Jaipur to Bengaluru via Ayodhya (IX765), a SpiceJet flight from Darbhanga to Mumbai (SG116), an Akasa Air flight from Bagdogra to Bengaluru (QP 1373), an Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago (AI 127) and an Indigo flight from Dammam (Saudi Arabia) to Lucknow (6E 98).

An Air India Express spokesperson told PTI in a statement that they, along with a few other operators, received a “specific” security threat from an unverified social media handle. “In response, security protocols were promptly activated as directed by the government-appointed Bomb Threat Assessment Committee. The flight landed safely, and the aircraft will be released for operations following all mandated security procedures,” the spokesperson said.

The SpiceJet aircraft landed safely at the Mumbai Airport and was directed to an isolation bay as a precautionary measure. “All passengers disembarked normally, and security agencies were immediately notified. After thorough security checks, the aircraft has been cleared for further operations,” a SpiceJet spokesperson said.

An Akasa Air spokesperson said their flight received a security alert on board. “The captain followed all required emergency procedures and landed safely at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru at 13:39 hours. All passengers were deplaned and the local authorities undertook the necessary safety and security checks after which the aircraft was released for operations,” the spokesperson said.

The Air India flight was diverted to the Iqaluit airport in Canada after it became the “subject of a security threat posted online”. “The aircraft and passengers are being re-screened according to the laid-down security protocol. Air India has activated agencies at the airport to assist the passengers until such time that their journey can resume,” an AI spokesperson said.

Indigo said in a statement that it was “cognisant of a situation involving flight 6E 98 from Dammam to Lucknow”. “The safety and security of our passengers and crew is our highest priority and we are working closely with the relevant authorities and taking all necessary precautions as per the guidelines,” a spokesperson for the airline said.

The Dammam-Lucknow flight landed at the Jaipur airport following its diversion. The aircraft has been sent to an isolation bay, an official at the Jaipur airport said. The suspect X handle tagged the respective airline and some police handles, claiming that bombs were placed on these planes, the sources said.

Four different X handles issued a similar threat to three international flights originating from Mumbai on Monday. All the messages on Monday were declared a hoax after security and intelligence agencies as well as airline and airport operators carried out stipulated anti-terrorist security drills that are activated in case of bomb or hijack threats, the sources said.

Officials said the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has sought the help of Indian cyber-security agencies and police to trace the person or people behind these threats.

Ratan Tata, who passed away on late October 9 at the age of 86, had succeeded J R D as the chairman of the Tata Sons in 1991. Since then, the company has touched new heights as it witnessed a number of major international and domestic deals under him. The deals have transformed the Tata group into one of India’s biggest conglomerates. Here are some of the major deals signed during his era:

1. Acquisition of Tetley Tea (2000)

Tata Tea (now Tata Consumer Products) acquired the British tea company Tetley for $450 million in 2000, making Tata one of the largest tea companies globally. This was one of the first major international acquisitions by an Indian company and marked the start of Ratan Tata’s global expansion strategy.

2. Acquisition of Corus Steel (2007)

Tata Steel’s acquisition of Corus, a UK-based steel producer, in 2007 for $12.9 billion was one of the largest acquisitions by an Indian company at the time. This deal made Tata Steel one of the top-10 steel producers in the world and showcased Ratan Tata’s vision of creating a global conglomerate.

Also Read: Ratan Tata: From Education to Philanthropy, Everything You Need to Know About The Man Behind Tata Legacy

3. Acquisition of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) (2008)

The acquisition of Jaguar Land Rover from Ford was a pivotal moment for Tata Motors. The deal was valued at $2.3 billion. Despite initial skepticism, this global acquisition has been proved to be a major success, transforming Tata Motors into a global player in the automotive sector and rejuvenating the iconic British luxury brands.

4. Acquisition of Daewoo Commercial Vehicles (2004)

Tata Motors acquired Daewoo’s commercial vehicle unit in South Korea for $102 million, which significantly strengthened Tata’s presence in the global commercial vehicle market. This acquisition gave Tata access to advanced truck-making technology and helped it expand into new markets.

5. Acquisition of NatSteel (2004)

As part of the group’s global deals, Tata Steel acquired NatSteel, a steelmaker based in Singapore, for $486 million, to strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia. This was part of Ratan Tata’s strategy to expand Tata Steel’s operations globally, especially in emerging markets.

6. Acquisition of The Ritz-Carlton Boston Hotel (2006)

Tata’s Indian Hotels Company (Taj Hotels) acquired The Ritz-Carlton Boston, a luxury hotel in the US for an estimated $170 million in 2006, which helped expand the Taj luxury brand globally. This acquisition was part of the group’s push to establish a significant presence in the global hospitality industry.

7. Joint Venture with Starbucks (2012)

In a landmark deal, Tata Global Beverages (now Tata Consumer Products) signed a joint venture with US-based Starbucks to launch Starbucks outlets in India. This partnership helped Tata enter the booming Indian coffee retail market, which has seen significant growth in the years since.

8. Acquisition of Brunner Mond (2006)

At £90 million, Tata Chemicals acquired Brunner Mond, a UK-based soda ash producer. This deal helped Tata Chemicals become one of the largest soda ash manufacturers globally, reinforcing its presence in international markets.

9. Acquisition of BigBasket (2021)

Though Ratan Tata retired in 2012 as the chairman, he remained Chairman Emeritus of the Tata group. The Tata group became the owner of BigBasket in May 2021. Natarajan Chandrasekaran was the chairman of the Tata Sons.

Also Read: From Jamshedji to Ratan Tata: The Family Tree of India’s Pioneering Business Conglomerate

Tata Digital acquired a majority stake in BigBasket, an Indian online grocery platform, marking Tata’s entry into the growing e-commerce space.

10. Acquisition of 1MG (2021)

Tata Digital also acquired a majority stake in 1MG, an online pharmacy, as part of its broader push into digital healthcare.

11. Reacquisition of Air India (2022)

In 2022, Tata Sons won the bid to reacquire Air India from the Indian government for Rs 18,000 crore. The Tata group chairman was Natarajan Chandrasekaran, while Ratan Tata was Chairman Emeritus. The airline had originally been founded by J.R.D. Tata, but was nationalized in 1953. This was a landmark moment as Tata brought the iconic airline back into its fold.

12. BSNL 4G Deal (2023)

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) secured a contract worth Rs 26,821 crore to provide 4G equipment to BSNL for its nationwide network upgrade. This deal is crucial for BSNL’s modernization efforts.

13. Proposed Merger with ThyssenKrupp (2018 – Aborted)

Apart from these deals, Tata Steel and ThyssenKrupp proposed a joint venture to combine their European steel operations in 2018. This deal was meant to create Europe’s second-largest steelmaker but was called off in 2019 due to regulatory issues.

Veteran industrialist and Tata Sons Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata died at the age of 86 late on Wednesday. He was admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital since Monday due to a sudden drop in blood pressure and was in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

In his official statement, Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran said Ratan Tata was a “truly uncommon leader whose immeasurable contributions have shaped not only the Tata Group but also the very fabric of our nation”. He said Tata was more than a chairperson for the Tata Group, and was a “mentor, guide and friend” to him.