At least 10 flights in India have recently been subjected to hoax bomb threats within the last 48 hours, resulting in significant delays and diversions.
On Tuesday, fighter jets were dispatched to escort an Air India Express aircraft from populated areas after a bomb threat was reported. Earlier, an Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago was diverted to a Canadian airport as a precaution.
While hoax bomb threats are not uncommon in India, the recent increase in such incidents raises concerns among authorities. Officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation have yet to provide a comment on the situation.
In addition to Air India, other airlines such as IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air have also reported receiving threats. A police investigation led to the detention of a teenager connected to threats that affected three international flights departing from Mumbai.
On Tuesday, a total of seven flights were impacted, including two Air India planes, after threats emerged from various social media accounts, which have since been suspended. Some of the posts had directly tagged airlines and local authorities, providing specific flight details.
Air India has stated that it is collaborating with authorities to track down those responsible for the threats and is considering legal action to recover incurred damages.
The response protocol at airports involves a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee that evaluates the legitimacy of threats. This protocol may require the deployment of bomb disposal teams, sniffer dogs, medical personnel, and police. Passengers, along with all baggage, are offloaded and re-screened, while engineering and security teams conduct thorough inspections of the aircraft.
The associated delays can lead to significant financial losses for airlines and security agencies. Additionally, international flights may involve relevant foreign agencies, as demonstrated by the involvement of Singapore and Canadian authorities.
In Singapore, the defense minister confirmed that fighter jets were sent to escort the Air India Express flight safely to Changi airport. The flight was en route from Madurai, India. Investigations are currently underway following the plane’s landing.
In the case of the Air India flight that diverted to Iqaluit, Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is actively investigating the bomb threat. Air India reported that a Canadian Air Force plane is facilitating the transport of passengers to Chicago, though it remains uncertain when the original flight will resume its journey.
