Bomb Threats Ground Multiple Indian Flights, Sparking Heightened Security Measures
In the past two days, Indian airlines have been targeted by an alarming surge of bomb threats, disrupting several domestic and international flights. While bomb threats to Indian carriers are not uncommon and are often hoaxes, the scale and frequency of the recent incidents have prompted serious responses from authorities. The country’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has convened a high-level meeting to identify the sources behind these threats, some of which led to flight diversions and military escorts.
A Day of Chaos for Indian Aviation
Tuesday saw a series of bomb threats across several airlines, causing confusion and forcing airlines to implement heightened security protocols. Just days after an Air India Boeing 777 bound for New York was diverted to New Delhi due to a bomb threat, another Air India flight to Chicago had to be rerouted to Iqaluit, Canada, following a similar threat. Passengers were assisted by airport agencies after the emergency landing.
In another incident, an Air India Express flight en route to Singapore faced a bomb threat, activating Singapore’s Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) system. The plane was escorted to a safe area at Changi Airport, where law enforcement and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams took control of the situation.
Threats Affect Major Airlines
Tuesday's chaos extended to several other major Indian airlines, including Akasa Air, IndiGo, and SpiceJet. In total, seven confirmed bomb threats were reported, affecting the following flights:
- Air India Delhi-Chicago
- Air India Express Jaipur-Ayodhya
- IndiGo Dammam-Lucknow
- IndiGo Bengaluru-Dehradun (diverted to Chandigarh)
- Akasa Air Bagdogra-Bengaluru
- Air India Express Madurai-Singapore
- SpiceJet Darbhanga-Mumbai
Some sources indicate that as many as ten threats were received, causing significant disruption to airline operations and inconvenience to passengers.
Aviation Ministry's Response
Given the severity of the situation, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has called for a high-level meeting with security agencies. Bomb threats were reportedly received via social media and email, with some originating from offshore locations, including London. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has already suspended several accounts linked to the threats.
With the aviation industry on high alert, authorities are working to trace the sources of these threats and strengthen protocols to ensure passenger safety.
