A wave of bomb threats hit over 70 domestic and international flights operated by major Indian airlines between Monday night and Tuesday. Airlines including IndiGo, Vistara, Akasa Air, and Air India were affected, with flights receiving threats through social media.
At least 23 IndiGo flights, 21 from Vistara, 12 from Akasa Air, and 23 from Air India were targeted. Passengers were safely disembarked, and no explosives were found. Airlines assured passengers that safety protocols were followed, and authorities were alerted.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu announced plans to introduce stricter penalties for hoax threats, including life imprisonment and adding offenders to the no-fly list. The Ministry of Home Affairs is also considering forming a central investigation team to address the issue.
Breakdown of Threatened Flights
According to the latest reports, 23 IndiGo flights, 21 Vistara flights, 12 Akasa Air flights, and 23 Air India flights were subjected to bomb threats, forcing authorities to take immediate action. The targeted IndiGo flights included key international routes such as 6E-63 Delhi-Jeddah, 6E-12 Istanbul-Delhi, 6E-83 Delhi-Dammam, and several other domestic routes.
Similarly, Vistara flights affected by the threats included UK 17 New Delhi-London, UK 21 New Delhi-Paris, and UK 23 Mumbai-Paris, among others. Akasa Air also saw threats made against flights like QP 1142 Goa-Pune, QP 1378 Delhi-Goa, and QP 1503 Mumbai-Guwahati.
Despite the threats, passengers on all the affected flights were safely disembarked. Airlines emphasized that safety and security procedures were promptly followed in coordination with local authorities. An IndiGo spokesperson stated, “The safety of our customers and crew remains paramount. We worked closely with the relevant authorities, and standard operating procedures were followed.”
An Air India spokesperson also confirmed that several of their flights received threats on Monday. “Relevant authorities were immediately alerted, and all security procedures were strictly adhered to, as per guidance from regulatory authorities,” the spokesperson said.
While most of these bomb threats have turned out to be hoaxes, the airlines continue to face operational challenges, including delayed flights, thorough inspections, and passenger evacuations as part of standard security protocols.
Government Response
In response to the growing menace, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu announced on Monday that stricter penalties would be proposed for those making hoax bomb threats. The proposed amendments include life imprisonment and placing offenders on the no-fly list. Naidu said that the government is planning to amend aviation security rules and the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Civil Aviation Act, 1982, to deal with these incidents.
“We are determined to take legislative actions to curb the rising instances of bomb threats to airlines. Such hoaxes are not only disruptive but dangerous,” Naidu stated.
MHA Steps In
As the frequency of hoax bomb threats continues to escalate, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is considering forming a central investigation team to tackle the issue. This team would include senior officers from state police departments, central intelligence, cybercrime agencies, and relevant authorities like the Bureau of Civil Aviation (BCA) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which oversees airport security in India.
Top officials from the MHA, BCA, CISF, Intelligence Bureau (IB), and other central agencies met on Monday to discuss how to address the situation. One senior police officer involved in the discussions referred to the rising number of threats as the “Jamtara of Indian aviation,” drawing a parallel to the infamous Jharkhand district known for cybercrimes.
Authorities are stepping up efforts to identify the sources of these threats and take stringent action against those responsible. Meanwhile, the airlines are working closely with local security agencies to ensure passenger safety while minimizing the impact on flight schedules.
The recent spate of bomb threats has caused major disruptions in India’s aviation industry, but airlines have acted swiftly to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. With the government promising stricter penalties for offenders and the MHA stepping in to investigate, authorities are working to restore normalcy in the aviation sector amidst this alarming trend.