Bomb Threats Continue Unabated, Fresh Scare Targets 85 Indigo, Akasa, Air India, Vistara Flights

Amidst a series of bomb hoaxes affecting numerous flights in recent days, at least 85 flights from IndiGo, Air India, Vistara, and Akasa Air were targeted with similar threats on Thursday.

This brings the total number of flights affected by these threats to over 250 in the past 10 days, reported India Today.

Previously, more than 170 flights had received bomb threats, with the majority of these threats originating from social media platforms. These incidents were later confirmed to be hoaxes, causing significant disruption to passengers and creating security challenges for paramilitary personnel and aviation authorities.

In response, the government is planning to include individuals responsible for hoax calls on a no-fly list. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated that making hoax bomb threats to airlines will be classified as a cognisable offence.

The flights impacted include services from Akasa Air, Air India, IndiGo, and Vistara, operating from Delhi and various other locations across the country to both domestic and international destinations.

The Delhi Police has registered eight cases related to these bomb threats. A senior police officer revealed that the threats were communicated through anonymous posts on X, which were later suspended by the authorities.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) held a meeting with CEOs and representatives of airlines in Delhi on 19th October to address the situation.

On Wednesday, the central government criticised social media platform X for its handling of the situation, stating that its actions amounted to "abetting crime".

When asked if the threats could be part of a larger conspiracy, Naidu advised caution, stating, "I wouldn't make any hasty decision on this. Let us wait for the thorough investigation to happen. Once we get hold of who is behind this, only then can we tell if there is a conspiracy or if there is some intention regarding the festive season or trying to affect the airlines."

The Civil Aviation Minister highlighted the role of social media and cyber channels in these threats, noting that while many of the IP addresses might trace back to foreign locations, they could have been rerouted through VPNs, complicating the investigation.

"It is not exactly my purview to tell where exactly it is coming from; the intelligence agency, the necessary departments, they're all looking through it," Naidu said. However, he reassured the public, stating, "we are putting in all the efforts that are required, so that our skies are safe."