India

10 bomb threats in 2 days: What's going on with Indian airlines?

Surge in hoax threats raises concerns over airline security

10 bomb threats in 2 days: What's going on with Indian airlines?

Such hoaxes have seen a rise in India, causing distress among citizens and economic losses.

Reuters

Ten flights operated by Indian carriers have received bomb threat messages through social media channels over the past 48 hours.

Agencies have heightened security measures, reportedly undertaking counter-terrorist drills at multiple airports. Nothing suspicious was found on any of the planes, police officials said.

The threats suddenly started on Monday; three international flights that departed from Mumbai were delayed or diverted after a handle called @schizobomber777 posted threats on X.

An Air India flight from Mumbai to New York was diverted to Delhi. The country’s carrier, IndiGo, reported threats made against two flights that were bound for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Muscat, Oman.

Flights threatened on Tuesday

On Tuesday, seven more flights received threats on X:

  • Air India Express flight IX765: Jaipur to Bengaluru.
  • SpiceJet flight SG116: Darbhanga to Mumbai.
  • Akasa Air flight QP1373: Bagdogra to Bengaluru.
  • Air India flight AI127: Delhi to Chicago.
  • IndiGo flight 6E98: Dammam (Saudi Arabia) to Lucknow.
  • Alliance Air flight 9I650: Amritsar to Dehradun.
  • Air India Express flight IX684: Madurai to Singapore.

The account has since been suspended.

International responses

Singapore's Air Force sent two fighter jets to escort an Air India Express plane away from residential areas and out to sea following a threat.

Just hours before, an Air India flight traveling from Delhi to Chicago had to be diverted to a Canadian airport as a precautionary measure due to a bomb scare. Air India said today that a Canadian Air Force plane was now taking the passengers to Chicago.

"Air India notes that it, and other local airlines, have been subject to a number of threats in recent days. Though all have subsequently been found to be hoaxes, as a responsible airline operator all threats are taken seriously," said the carrier on social media.

Investigation in India

The Mumbai Police have sent notices to suspects for questioning: a teenage boy, his father, and another person from Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh in relation to the bomb threats made on Monday.

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