10 bomb threats in 2 days: What's going on with Indian airlines?
Surge in hoax threats raises concerns over airline security
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.
(1/3) Air India Express received an email that there was a bomb on board flight AXB684 that was bound for Singapore. Two of our RSAF F-15SGs scrambled and escorted the plane away from populated areas, to finally land safely at Singapore Changi Airport at around 10:04pm tonight. pic.twitter.com/tOzo6wgT5E
— Ng Eng Hen (@Ng_Eng_Hen) October 15, 2024
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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