New Delhi: Over 20 flights across Indian carriers received bomb threats from late Friday night till Saturday afternoon.
Flights of Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Air, Vistara, SpiceJet, Star Air and Alliance Air have received the threats. “Since Friday night we have the maximum spurt in threats. This is just crazy,” TOI reported quoting officials of multiple airlines.
The report added that people behind these threats are now threatening flights of foreign airlines like American Airlines and JetBlue.
In a statement, a Vistara spokesperson said the three flights operating out of Delhi received security threats on social media on Friday (October 18, 2024) and as per protocol, all the relevant authorities were promptly alerted.
Its Delhi-London flight was divert to Frankfurt Friday night as a precautionary measure. “Flight UK17 operating from Delhi to London on October 18 received a security threat on social media. In line with the protocol, all relevant authorities were immediately informed and as a precautionary measure, the pilots decided to divert the flight to Frankfurt. The flight landed safely at the Frankfurt Airport where all the mandatory checks were conducted by the security agencies following which, the aircraft was cleared to conclude the journey. At Vistara, the safety and security of our customers, crew, and aircraft remain our highest priority,” a Vistara spokesperson said.
Vistara’s Udaipur-Mumbai also reportedly got such a message. Upon arrival at Mumbai airport, the aircraft was moved to an isolation bay for mandatory checks.
IndiGo services from Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul as well as from Jodhpur to Delhi were also affected due to the hoax threats. The airline confirmed about flight 6E 17 from Mumbai to Istanbul and flight 6E 11 from Delhi to Istanbul receiving security-related alerts. “The safety and security of our passengers and crew is our highest priority and we are working closely with the relevant authorities and taking all necessary precautions as per the guidelines,” it said.
IndiGo also mentioned about flight 6E 184, operating from Jodhpur to Delhi. “The aircraft has landed in Delhi and customers have disembarked the aircraft, we are coordination with the security agencies as per procedure,” it added.
Air India’s Newark-Mumbai flight was delayed by three hours as the aircraft had to be re-checked following a threat. an AI Express Dubai-Jaipur flight reached its destination and was checked there on arrival at a remote parking bay, according to the TOI report.
According to the airlines, 20 flights received bomb threat calls: 5 Akasa (QP 1323, QP 1371, QP 1373, QP 1385, QP 1405), 5 Vistara (UK 106, UK 27, UK 107, UK 121, UK 131), 5 Air India (AI 101, AI 105, AI 126, AI 119, AI 161), and 5 Indigo (6E 11, 6E 17, 6E 58, 6E 108, 6E 184).
“Some of our flights operating on October 19, 2024, have received security alerts today. The Akasa Air Emergency Response teams are monitoring the situation and are in touch with the security and regulatory authorities. We are following all safety and security procedures in coordination with local authorities and the Akasa Air teams on ground are prepared to assist passengers to ensure their safety and comfort,” Akasa Air said.
Five SpiceJet flights, including four domestic and one international, also received bomb threat messages on Saturday, the TimesNow reported.
Since last Sunday, over 40 flights operated by Indian carriers on both international and domestic routes have received bomb threats, all of which turned out to be false.
Nineteen such threats were issued by a 17-year-old tech-savvy boy from Chhattisgarh. The minor hacked his 25-year-old business partner’s social media account and issued the bomb threats over a financial dispute leading to alleged mental harassment and a sexual assault incident, the India Today reporting, quoting his mother.
The boy was allegedly sexually assaulted by his partner and an FIR under the POCSO Act in this connection, she added.
The Ministry of Home Affairs earlier sought a report from the Ministry of Civil Aviation on a series of bomb threats to various airlines across the country. Those found behind these threats are likely to be put on no-fly list.
