Indian aviation has witnessed a rise in bomb threats recently, with most proving to be false alarms. However, in the past two days, a series of threats targeting both domestic and international flights caused significant disruption, forcing some flights to be diverted and even escorted by military aircraft. The situation has caught the attention of the country’s aviation ministry, prompting a high-level meeting aimed at tracing the sources of these threats.

Multiple Bomb Threats in a Single Day

On Tuesday, the Indian aviation sector was rocked by a wave of bomb threats, causing confusion and chaos. High-security protocols were swiftly enacted, which led to inconvenience for airlines and passengers alike. The bomb threats surfaced just days after an Air India Boeing 777, operating on the Mumbai-New York route, was diverted back to New Delhi as a precautionary measure after receiving a similar threat.

The chaos on Tuesday intensified when another Air India flight, a Boeing 777 flying from Delhi to Chicago, received a bomb threat. The plane had already completed most of its transatlantic journey and was forced to make an unscheduled diversion to Iqaluit Airport in Canada. Air India, in its statement, said that it had activated support services at the airport to assist the passengers during the ordeal.

Other Airlines Targeted: Akasa Air, IndiGo, and SpiceJet

It wasn’t just Air India in the crosshairs. Multiple Indian airlines were also subject to hoax bomb threats on Tuesday, leading authorities to enforce strict protocols across the board. Seven confirmed bomb threats were recorded that day, although some sources suggested that the number could be as high as ten. The following flights were directly impacted:

• Air India: Delhi-Chicago flight, diverted to Iqaluit, Canada.
• Air India Express: Jaipur-Ayodhya flight.
• IndiGo: Dammam-Lucknow flight.
• IndiGo: Bengaluru-Dehradun flight, which was diverted to Chandigarh.
• Akasa Air: Bagdogra-Bengaluru flight.
• Air India Express: Madurai-Singapore flight.
• SpiceJet: Darbhanga-Mumbai flight.

While all these threats were ultimately deemed to be hoaxes, the high number of incidents in a short span created a sense of urgency among authorities.

High-Level Response from the Aviation Ministry

A bomb threat to a commercial flight is never taken lightly. Established protocols in such situations require the aircraft to be directed to a secure, remote area of the airport, where passengers and their baggage undergo thorough screening. However, the sheer volume of threats on Tuesday triggered a more serious response from government officials.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation promptly called for a high-level meeting with security agencies to address the situation. It was revealed that the threats were received through a combination of social media posts and email messages, some of which were traced to offshore locations. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) reported that several social media accounts responsible for the threats were swiftly identified and suspended. The CISF further noted that some of the threats were traced back to London and other international sources.