The safety and security of Indian flights was put at risk this past week as over 70 flights have received bomb threats, with 10 being targeted in India over the weekend. IndiGo Airlines confirmed its awareness of the situation, with one of its flights receiving a threat while en route from Mumbai to Istanbul. The government has been closely monitoring the situation and a suspect responsible for issuing threats to three flights has been arrested.
Bomb Threats on Indian Flights: A Looming Threat to Aviation Security
Over the past week, the safety and security of Indian flights have been compromised by a series of bomb threats, with dozens of flights targeted and several facing disruptions. The situation has raised concerns about the vulnerability of India's aviation sector and the need for enhanced security measures.
Background:
In 2022, Indian airlines faced a similar spate of bomb threats, prompting the government to launch an investigation. The probe revealed that many of the threats originated from foreign countries, using voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology to disguise the caller's identity. The motive behind these threats remains unclear, although some experts believe it could be linked to organized crime or political unrest.
Current Situation:
Over 70 flights have received bomb threats this week, with 10 of those threats targeting flights in India. Several airlines, including IndiGo, SpiceJet, and GoAir, have confirmed receiving hoax threats. On Saturday, a flight from Mumbai to Istanbul was forced to return to its origin after receiving a bomb threat.
The Indian government has been closely monitoring the situation and has taken steps to enhance security at airports. A suspect responsible for issuing threats to three flights has been arrested in Kolkata.
Aftermath:
The bomb threats have caused significant disruptions to air travel, with several flights being delayed or canceled. The Indian aviation sector has suffered financial losses as a result of the uncertainty created by the threats.
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