In the last 48 hours, a series of at least 10 Indian flights have been subjected to hoax bomb threats, resulting in significant delays and diversions for passengers and crew alike.
On Tuesday, the Singapore Air Force deployed two fighter jets to escort an Air India Express aircraft away from densely populated regions in response to a bomb threat.
Just hours earlier, an Air India flight traveling from Delhi to Chicago was forced to make an unscheduled landing at a Canadian airport as a precautionary measure.
In India, hoax bomb threats targeting airlines have become a recurring issue; however, the recent spike in such incidents since Monday raises questions about the underlying causes.
Officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security have yet to respond to the BBC’s inquiries via email.
Threats were also directed at flights operated by IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air, in addition to Air India.
On Monday, three international flights departing from Mumbai experienced diversions or delays following threats posted on an X (formerly Twitter) account. Police have apprehended a teenager in relation to this incident.
On Tuesday, seven flights, two operated by Air India, were impacted by threats originating from a now-suspended X handle.
Images of several posts reveal that the user had tagged both the airline and local law enforcement while also referencing the flight number.
Air India announced that it is collaborating with authorities to identify those responsible for the threats and is contemplating legal action to recover incurred damages.
All airports in India are equipped with a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee tasked with evaluating the severity of potential threats and implementing appropriate measures in response. The presence of a danger necessitates the engagement of various emergency services, including the bomb disposal squad, sniffer dogs, ambulances, police, and medical personnel.
Passengers disembark from the aircraft, accompanied by their cabin baggage, checked luggage, and cargo, all of which undergo a secondary screening process. Once more, before the aircraft is authorized for takeoff, both engineering and security teams conduct thorough inspections of the plane.
The resulting delay could lead to significant financial losses, potentially amounting to thousands of dollars for both airlines and security agencies.
Flights destined for other countries may prompt the involvement of international agencies, as seen in cases in Singapore and Canada.
On Tuesday, Singapore’s defense minister reported that two fighter jets from the city-state were deployed to “scramble and escort” an Air India Express plane, which subsequently landed safely at Changi airport. A flight departed from Madurai, India, heading towards Singapore.
The aircraft was subsequently turned over to the Airport Police upon landing.
Ng Eng Hen stated that investigations are currently underway.
The aircraft successfully touched down at Changi Airport.
In Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has launched an investigation into a threat following the precautionary landing of an Air India flight to Chicago at Iqaluit airport.
On Wednesday, Air India announced that a Canadian Air Force aircraft was transporting passengers to Chicago. At this point, the timeline for the Air India plane’s departure remains uncertain.
