A fresh wave of panic struck Indian airlines on Tuesday as seven flights, including an Air India flight bound for Chicago, received bomb threats through a social media handle on X. The alarming messages caused immediate security measures and flight delays, sparking concern for passengers and airline operators alike.
The bomb threats were sent to the airlines via an X handle, just a day after three similar threats targeted international flights from Mumbai, which turned out to be hoaxes. This latest round of threats triggered swift action from security agencies, with counter-terrorist drills being carried out at airports across the country.
Among the seven flights threatened were 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), and an Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago (AI 127), which was diverted to Canada for safety. Additionally, an Indigo flight from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, to Lucknow (6E 98), an Alliance Air flight from Amritsar to Dehradun (9I 650), and an Air India Express flight from Madurai to Singapore (IX 684) were also targeted.
Air India, along with several other airlines, activated their security protocols as per the government’s Bomb Threat Assessment Committee. “The flight landed safely, and the aircraft will resume operations after undergoing all necessary security checks,” an Air India spokesperson confirmed.
The threats were posted by a suspect X handle, which tagged the respective airlines and even police handles, claiming that bombs were placed on the flights. Authorities responded swiftly, suspending the account in question and launching an investigation with Indian cyber-security agencies to trace the individual or group responsible.
This incident followed Monday’s scare, where four different X handles issued similar bomb threats to international flights departing from Mumbai, resulting in a major inconvenience for both passengers and airline staff.
While the SpiceJet flight safely landed in Mumbai and was cleared after extensive security checks, the ongoing investigation highlights the vulnerability of using social media for such threats. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and Indian law enforcement agencies are working together to identify those responsible, ensuring that all necessary measures are in place to prevent future scares.
