Bomb threats hit over 100 Indian flights in a day

New Delhi: More than 100 flights operated by various Indian airlines received bomb threats on Tuesday (Oct  29), according to sources. 

In last 16 days, over 510 domestic and international flights have been subjected to similar threats, all of which have been determined to be hoaxes. Most of these threats were issued through social media platforms.

Among the airlines affected, Air India reported bomb threats for approximately 36 flights, while IndiGo faced threats for about 35 flights. Vistara also received threats for 32 flights. 

Authorities are investigating the sources of these threats as they continue to disrupt operations across the aviation sector.

"A number of Air India flights were subject to security threats received on social media on 29 October 2024.

"Following the laid down protocols, relevant authorities were immediately alerted, and all security procedures strictly adhered to, as per guidance from the regulatory authorities," an airline spokesperson said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai police have registered a case against an unidentified person after three airlines received bomb threats on their X handle, an official said on Tuesday.

IndiGo, Air India and Vistara had received the threats on Monday, and they turned out to be a hoax after verification, the official added.

The city police have registered 14 FIRs in October in connection with the bomb threats to airlines.

Amid a spate of hoax bomb threats to airlines, the IT Ministry has asked social media platforms to observe due diligence obligations and promptly remove or disable access to misinformation within the strict timelines prescribed under IT rules.

Besides, the civil aviation ministry is looking to take legislative actions to tackle the menace of the hoax bomb threats to airlines.

On Sunday, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said the Centre is mulling steps to ban perpetrators, who resort to hoax bomb threats, from flying.

-B