In a concerning development, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has initiated an investigation after ten planes received bomb threats within a span of less than 48 hours, leading to one flight being diverted to a remote airport in Canada. Officials reported that Tuesday’s threats originated from an unverified account on X, formerly known as Twitter.
On Tuesday alone, seven flights—including one bound for the United States—were impacted after threats were issued from the X handle, which began posting alarming messages in the afternoon.
Key Incidents:
- Air India Flight AI 127: Traveling from Delhi to Chicago, the flight was diverted to Iqaluit Airport in Canada after a security threat was reported. Departing from Delhi at 3 am, the aircraft made the precautionary landing, and passengers underwent re-screening as per security protocols. “Air India has activated agencies at the airport to assist the passengers until their journey can resume,” the airline stated.
- IndiGo Flight 6E 98: En route from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, to Lucknow, the flight made an emergency landing in Jaipur following a bomb threat. An IndiGo spokesperson commented, “We are cognizant of a situation involving flight 6E 98 from Dammam to Lucknow. The safety and security of our passengers and crew is our highest priority, and we are working closely with the relevant authorities and taking all necessary precautions as per the guidelines.”
- Air India Express Flight IX 765: Heading from Jaipur to Ayodhya, the flight made an emergency landing around 2 pm due to a similar threat.
Other affected flights included an Akasa Air flight from Bagdogra to Bengaluru (QP 1373), an Alliance Air flight from Amritsar-Dehradun-Delhi (9I 650), and Air India Express flight IX 684 from Madurai to Singapore, according to sources.
On Monday, three international flights departing from Mumbai—two operated by IndiGo and one by Air India—also received bomb threats, which were later deemed hoaxes. Notably, Air India flight AI119, scheduled to fly from Mumbai to New York’s JFK Airport, made an emergency landing in New Delhi.
Official Response:
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security is taking these threats seriously and is working diligently to identify the source. Aviation authorities have heightened security measures and are collaborating with airlines to ensure passenger safety.
These incidents have raised significant concerns about aviation security and the potential misuse of social media platforms to spread panic and disrupt operations.
