In a span of 24 hours, five flights operated by Indian carriers received bomb threats, prompting emergency security checks and flight diversions. Among the affected flights, a Vistara Airlines flight from Delhi to London was diverted to Frankfurt, Germany, after receiving a bomb threat. The flight later resumed its journey after thorough checks found no danger on board. Similarly, an Air India Express flight from Dubai to Jaipur, carrying 189 passengers, was also subjected to bomb threat procedures upon landing, but no suspicious items were found.
The Vistara flight to London, operating from Delhi, was forced to land at Frankfurt Airport at 12:40 a.m. Indian Standard Time for precautionary security measures. The airline confirmed that all necessary checks were conducted and the aircraft departed from Frankfurt after a two-hour delay. No threats were discovered during the investigation, allowing the flight to continue safely to its destination.
Meanwhile, Air India Express from Dubai arrived in Jaipur at 1:20 a.m., where similar security checks were conducted after receiving a bomb threat via email. Authorities confirmed that no suspicious materials were discovered. Akasa Air was also impacted, with a flight from Bengaluru to Mumbai receiving a security alert shortly before departure, though no immediate action was taken as the threat turned out to be a hoax.
This wave of bomb threats is part of a disturbing trend. Over the past week, approximately 20 flights have been targeted with similar threats. On Thursday alone, five flights received bomb threats, all of which were later confirmed as false alarms. Investigators have uncovered some common language used in these threats, including phrases such as “bombs”, “blood will spread everywhere”, “explosive devices”, and “this is not a joke.”
Authorities have traced some of the IP addresses from which these threats originated to foreign locations, including London. A 17-year-old boy from Chhattisgarh has been detained by Mumbai Police in connection with bomb threats to three flights originating from Mumbai on October 14. Additionally, the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) by perpetrators has complicated the investigation, as VPNs mask users’ physical locations.
In response to this surge in false bomb threats, the Civil Aviation Ministry is planning to introduce stricter regulations, including adding hoax callers to the no-fly list to prevent further disruptions and ensure passenger safety.
