A meeting involving Air India and Vistara was held this Tuesday evening, with the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology reprimanding social media platform X for circulating bomb threat hoaxes. The ministry also advised social media platforms to use AI-based mechanisms to block any accounts sending out bulk messages about bombs. Over the past eight days, more than 170 flights operated by Indian carriers have received bomb threats, prompting authorities to urge social media platforms to take immediate action.
An increase in hoax bomb threats through social media have disrupted multiple flights of Indian airlines over the past few days. On Sunday, 24 flights received threats, with one flight being diverted and others declaring emergencies. The threats came from anonymous and unverified accounts, showing the potential dangers of using social media for false alarms. Despite most threats being considered fake, airlines and aviation authorities take them seriously, causing disruptions and financial losses for airlines. The affected airlines, including IndiGo, Akasa Air, Vistara, and Air India, confirmed the threats and followed security protocols with the relevant authorities.
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.
After a bomb threat forced a flight from Bengaluru to Jamnagar to make an emergency landing, authorities launched an investigation and found no explosives on the aircraft. Meanwhile, coach Anup Sridhar believes that badminton star Sindhu still has the potential to become a champion and could follow in the footsteps of Tine Baun. Despite facing challenges, Sindhu remains determined to excel at the top level.
Hoax bomb threats continue to plague domestic airlines in India, with multiple flights receiving threats for the fourth consecutive day. Authorities have suspended or blocked about 10 social media handles for issuing these threats, while Air India and other airlines have taken necessary precautions to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu is looking into amending regulations for strict action against those responsible, as investigations have revealed the involvement of individuals, minors, and pranksters in these threats. The Royal Air Force was forced to escort one of the flights to its destination, and common phrases and words used in these fake threats have been identified by security agencies.
In a continued pattern, four days in a row now, domestic airlines have been facing bomb threats to their flights. Recently, two Vistara and two IndiGo flights received such threats. Following the protocol, the authorities were immediately informed, and all passengers were safely disembarked as the aircraft underwent extensive security checks. IndiGo did not disclose any further details and is cooperating with relevant authorities.
Mumbai Police have detained a 17-year-old boy from Chhattisgarh for creating a fake social media account and posting bomb hoax threats targeting three flights. The boy's motive was allegedly a financial dispute with a shopkeeper. While Mumbai Police have registered three FIRs in connection with the bomb threats, the DCP has clarified that the minor was not involved in any fresh threats issued on Tuesday.
In a series of false bomb threats to Indian airlines, a teenager, his father, and another person were issued a notice by the Mumbai police to join questioning. The threats, which were posted on social media platform X, targeted three international flights originating from Mumbai. Following investigations, the connection to these threats was traced to Rajnandgaon, and the authorities have taken legal action to prevent further misuse and ensure the safety of passengers and airport operations.