AT LEAST 10 Indian flights have been subjected to hoax bomb threats, resulting in significant delays and diversions across multiple airlines, in the past 48 hours.

On Tuesday, Singapore’s Air Force deployed two fighter jets to escort an Air India Express flight away from densely populated areas after receiving a bomb threat, a BBC report said.

Earlier that day, an Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago made an unscheduled landing at a Canadian airport due to safety concerns.

While hoax bomb threats are not uncommon in India, the recent spike in incidents since Monday has raised alarms among aviation authorities.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security did not respond to requests for comment regarding the situation.

Flights from various airlines, including IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air, have also been impacted by these threats.

On Monday, three international flights departing from Mumbai faced delays or diversions following alarming posts from an X (formerly Twitter) account.

Authorities have detained a teenager in connection with these threats.

On Tuesday, an additional seven flights, including the two Air India flights, were disrupted by threats linked to a now-suspended X account.

Screenshots of the posts indicated that the user had tagged the airline and local police while providing specific flight numbers.

In response to the incidents, Air India in a statement published on X, stated it is cooperating with authorities to identify those responsible for the threats and is considering legal action to recover incurred damages.

Every Indian airport operates a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee that evaluates the severity of such threats and initiates appropriate responses.

These measures often involve bomb disposal units, sniffer dogs, ambulances, and police.

Passengers and their baggage are offloaded and thoroughly screened, while engineering and security teams inspect the aircraft before it is deemed safe for travel.

The delays caused by these threats can result in substantial financial losses for airlines and security agencies.

For international flights, the involvement of foreign agencies is also possible, as evidenced by the actions taken by Singapore and Canadian authorities.(CMM)

• Tags
• #Hoax Bomb Threats
• #Indian Airlines
• #Singapore’s Air Force
• #Air India Express
• #Flight Cancellations