Fresh Bomb Threats Impact 95 Flights

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

Fresh bomb threats to 95 flights: IndiGo, Air India, Vistara, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air have impacted over 250 flights in the past 10 days.
Social media at the core: Authorities reveal that most bomb threat messages are being circulated through social media platforms.
Government steps up: The Civil Aviation Minister announced that bomb threat calls will now be considered a criminal offense, and perpetrators will be placed on a no-fly list.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

In recent days, a surge of bomb threats has been plaguing flights, causing major disruptions. On Thursday, fresh threats targeted at least 95 flights of IndiGo, Air India, Vistara, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Alliance Air. Officials reported that 25 Akasa Air flights and 20 each from Air India, IndiGo, and Vistara were impacted by the latest wave of threats. Over the past 10 days, more than 250 flights have been affected.

Most of these bomb threats have originated from social media platforms, later confirmed as hoaxes. These false threats have caused significant inconvenience for passengers and posed a major security challenge for paramilitary personnel and aviation authorities. Before this recent incident, over 170 flights had already received similar bomb threats. The Delhi Police has filed eight cases related to these threats, and authorities have suspended the threatening posts on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) held a meeting with airline CEOs and representatives in Delhi on October 19 to address the issue. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu declared that making hoax bomb threats will be recognized as a criminal offense, with perpetrators placed on a no-fly list.

The government also criticized social media platform X, accusing it of abetting crime by allowing such threats to circulate.

Minister Naidu indicated that investigations into the threats are ongoing and urged patience. He suggested that once those responsible are identified, a clearer picture will emerge regarding whether these threats are part of a larger conspiracy or are timed to disrupt the festive season. He also noted that many of the IP addresses associated with these threats may point to foreign locations but could be rerouted via VPNs, complicating the investigation.

Naidu assured the public that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the skies remain safe for passengers.