Hoax bomb threats cause panic among Indian airlines

At least 19 Indian flights have faced hoax bomb threats since Monday, resulting in significant delays and diversions.

On Wednesday, an Air Akasa flight bound for Bengaluru was rerouted to Delhi due to a bomb threat. The previous day, two fighter jets from Singapore’s Air Force were dispatched to escort an Air India Express flight after a similar threat was reported. IndiGo and SpiceJet were also among the airlines impacted.

While hoax bomb threats are not uncommon in India, the sudden increase since Monday remains unexplained.

India’s civil aviation minister announced on Wednesday that the ministry is closely monitoring the situation and is making “every possible effort” to ensure safe flight operations. “We are dedicated to upholding the highest security standards, and passenger safety is our top priority,” said Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu in a statement on X.

A senior home ministry official told news agency ANI that more security personnel will be deployed on “sensitive routes,” although there has been no official government confirmation.

On Monday, three international flights from Mumbai experienced diversions or delays after a threat was posted on an X handle, leading to the detention of a teenager in connection with the incident. On Tuesday, seven flights, including two from Air India, were impacted by threats from another now-suspended X account that tagged the airline and local police along with specific flight numbers.

Air India stated it is cooperating with authorities to identify those responsible for the threats and is considering legal action to recover damages.

Each Indian airport has a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee that evaluates threats and determines the appropriate response. This often involves bomb disposal teams, sniffer dogs, ambulances, police, and medical personnel. Passengers, cabin baggage, and cargo are offloaded and screened again, and the aircraft is thoroughly searched before it can resume flying.

These delays can lead to significant financial losses for airlines and security agencies. For international flights, it may also prompt involvement from foreign agencies, as seen in recent incidents with Singapore and Canada.

On Tuesday, Singapore’s defense minister reported that two fighter jets were deployed to escort an Air India Express flight away from populated areas before it landed safely at Changi Airport, following a bomb threat. “Once on the ground, the aircraft was handed to Airport Police for ongoing investigations,” Ng Eng Hen said.

In Canada, an Air India flight en route to Chicago was diverted to Iqaluit Airport as a precaution. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is investigating the threat, and a Canadian Air Force plane is transporting passengers to Chicago. The timeline for the Air India flight’s departure remains unclear.