In a troubling trend, at least 10 Indian flights have received hoax bomb threats over the past 48 hours. These threats have caused significant delays and diversions across the country.
On Tuesday, Singapore’s Air Force responded promptly. They dispatched two fighter jets to escort an Air India Express plane away from populated areas following a bomb threat. The plane was en route from Madurai, India, to Singapore.
Earlier on the same day, an Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago had to divert to a Canadian airport as a precaution. The incident raised alarms, prompting investigations into the nature of the threats.
Hoax bomb threats are not new in India. However, the sudden surge in threats since Monday has puzzled authorities. Officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security did not respond to BBC inquiries regarding the spike.
Teenager Arrested in Mumbai Incident
The threats affected multiple airlines, including IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air. On Monday, three international flights departing from Mumbai faced diversions or delays due to threats linked to a social media post on X (formerly Twitter). Authorities arrested a teenager in connection with this specific incident.
On Tuesday, seven more flights, including two Air India planes, experienced disruptions from threats made by another X account, which has since been suspended. Screenshots of the posts revealed that the user tagged the airline and local police while mentioning specific flight numbers.
In response, Air India stated that it is cooperating with authorities to identify the individuals behind the threats. The airline is also considering legal action to recover damages incurred from these disruptions.
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Each Indian airport has a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee. This committee evaluates the severity of each threat and determines appropriate actions. A bomb threat can trigger the involvement of specialized teams, including bomb disposal units, sniffer dogs, ambulances, and police.
When a threat is reported, passengers, cabin baggage, check-in luggage, and cargo are all offloaded and screened again. Engineering and security teams then conduct a thorough search of the aircraft before clearance for takeoff is granted.
Financial Losses
These safety protocols can lead to significant delays and financial losses for airlines and security agencies. Each disruption may cost thousands of dollars in damages. For international flights, the involvement of foreign agencies can complicate matters further.
On Tuesday, Singapore’s Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen confirmed that two fighter jets were scrambled to escort the Air India Express plane to safety at Changi Airport. “Once on the ground, the plane was handed to the Airport Police. Investigations are ongoing,” he noted.
In Canada, the Air India flight diverted to Iqaluit as a precaution. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police announced they are investigating the threat.
Air India confirmed on Wednesday that a Canadian Air Force plane is transporting the passengers to Chicago. However, it remains unclear when the Air India flight will be permitted to take off again.
As investigations continue, authorities strive to restore confidence in air travel safety amid these troubling incidents.
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