In a growing security concern, three Indian flights received bomb threats within 24 hours, contributing to a rising number of hoax calls made to airlines this week. Since Monday, at least 35 flights have been targeted, prompting authorities and the civil aviation ministry to consider stricter measures to prevent such incidents.
One of the affected flights, a London-bound Vistara flight from Delhi (UK17), was diverted to Frankfurt, Germany, after receiving a bomb threat on social media. Following protocol, the airline immediately informed relevant authorities, and the flight was redirected for safety checks. After being thoroughly inspected, the flight resumed its journey to London. A spokesperson for Vistara confirmed the diversion, stating that the pilots took precautionary measures to ensure passenger safety.
Another incident involved an Air India Express flight (IX 196) traveling from Dubai to Jaipur, which also received a bomb threat. The aircraft underwent security checks upon arrival, but the threat was determined to be a hoax. The scare caused delays, including for the return Jaipur-Dubai flight (IX 195), which departed after a delay of over an hour. The flight ultimately proceeded without further issues.
Meanwhile, an Akasa Air flight (QP 1366) scheduled from Bengaluru to Mumbai faced a bomb threat shortly before departure. As per standard operating procedures, the flight was grounded, and the plane was thoroughly inspected at Mumbai airport. Following a comprehensive security check, no suspicious items were found, and the flight was cleared to continue. However, the delay caused significant inconvenience to passengers, who were deplaned and had to undergo additional security measures.
The rise in hoax bomb threats has alarmed authorities. Sources indicate that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is working with airlines to implement new protocols, including placing hoax callers on a no-fly list for up to five years. There is also a proposal to recover financial losses caused by these threats from the perpetrators.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu addressed the issue on Thursday, stating that preliminary investigations suggest these threats are largely pranks, with many of the calls originating from minors. A 17-year-old boy was recently detained by Mumbai Police for issuing bomb threats to four flights earlier in the week, motivated by a personal dispute.
The minister assured that measures are being considered to prevent such incidents, including changes to legislation to create stricter barriers against prank threats. He emphasized the need for a robust response to deter future hoaxes, stating that such acts, even if committed by minors, cause unnecessary panic and disruption.
