Second day in a row, seven flights get hoax bomb threats via X

Multiple security agencies, including state police, have been mobilised to work in coordination to identify those responsible for a series of bomb threats targeting flights across the country on Monday and Tuesday. Seven flights, including one bound for Chicago from Delhi, received bomb threats on Tuesday.

On Monday, three planes, including another US-bound Air India flight from Mumbai, had also received bomb threats.

Zulfikar Hassan, Director General of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), assured that the bomb threats did not disrupt domestic flight services. “We followed the SOP after receiving the threats. However, the flights facing threats took off and landed on time. Only the international flight bound for Chicago was diverted to Canada, a decision made by local authorities there,” Hassan said.

In the midst of a diplomatic row with Canada, an Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago was diverted to a remote Canadian location following a bomb threat.

Air India confirmed in a statement that Flight AI127 operating from Delhi to Chicago on October 15, was diverted to Iqaluit Airport, Canada, after a security threat was posted online. The aircraft and passengers were re-screened according to security protocols. Air India has activated agencies to assist passengers during the delay.

“Air India notes that it, and other local airlines, have been subject to several threats in recent days. Though all have subsequently been found to be hoaxes, we take every threat seriously. The inconvenience to customers is sincerely regretted,” the airline’s statement added. It also mentioned that Air India is cooperating with authorities to identify the perpetrators and will consider legal action to recover damages.

The sources said an X handle issued threats on Tuesday to seven flights — an Air India Express flight from Jaipur to Bengaluru via Ayodhya (IX765), a SpiceJet flight from Darbhanga to Mumbai (SG116), an Akasa Air flight from Bagdogra to Bengaluru (QP 1373), an Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago (AI 127), an Indigo flight from Dammam (Saudi Arabia) to Lucknow (6E 98), an Alliance Air Amritsar-Dehradun-Delhi flight (9I 650) and an Air India Express flight (IX 684) from Madurai to Singapore.

Hassan confirmed that local police, along with central agencies, have been involved in the investigation, given that the threats spanned multiple locations.