Over 70 Bomb Hoaxes Hit Indian Airlines; Govt Plans Strict Penalties

Oct 19, 2024, 08:16 AM

Indian airlines have been targeted by a surge of bomb threats, with over 70 hoax calls received in the past week, causing widespread disruption to flights and triggering emergency responses. The threats, some traced to IP addresses in Germany and the UK, have affected multiple airlines including Air India, IndiGo, Vistara, Akasa Air, Air India Express, and SpiceJet. Flights have been diverted or delayed, including Air India Express flight IX-196 from Dubai to Jaipur carrying 189 passengers, and a Vistara flight from Delhi to London that was diverted to Frankfurt. The hoaxes are costing airlines approximately ₹3 crore per incident due to disruptions. The Ministry of Civil Aviation is planning to impose stringent penalties, including placing hoax callers on a no-fly list, to prevent such incidents. Security agencies are investigating the threats, noting that some were made via social media and email using VPNs and the dark web, complicating tracing efforts. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) held a meeting with airline CEOs to discuss ways to minimize disruptions and ensure passenger safety. Bomb threats hit 30 flights in 24 hours, but despite the chaos, no suspicious items have been found on the affected flights, and all aircraft have been cleared after thorough security checks.