Air India plane bound for US, 6 other flights get bomb threats

Seven flights, including one bound for the United States, received bomb-threat messages through a social media handle on Tuesday, prompting security agencies to undertake specific counter-terrorist drills at various airports, official sources said.

The threats via microblogging platform X came a day after three international flights originating from Mumbai received bomb threats, causing trouble to hundreds of passengers and airline crew. The messages posted on Monday were declared a hoax.

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.

The X handle has since been suspended by the platform after the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) wrote to cyber-security agencies.

An Air India Express spokesperson told PTI in a statement that they, along with a few other operators, received a "specific" security threat from an unverified social media handle.

"In response, security protocols were promptly activated as directed by the government-appointed Bomb Threat Assessment Committee. The flight landed safely, and the aircraft will be released for operations following all mandated security procedures," the spokesperson said.

The SpiceJet aircraft landed safely at the Mumbai airport and was directed to an isolation bay as a precautionary measure.

"All passengers disembarked normally and security agencies were immediately notified. After thorough security checks, the aircraft has been cleared for further operations," a SpiceJet spokesperson said.

An Akasa Air spokesperson said their flight received a security alert on board.

"The captain followed all required emergency procedures and landed safely at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, at 13.39 hours. All passengers were deplaned and the local authorities undertook the necessary safety and security checks after which the aircraft was released for operations," the spokesperson said.

The Air India flight was diverted to the Iqaluit airport in Canada after it became the "subject of a security threat posted online".

"The aircraft and passengers are being re-screened according to the laid-down security protocol. Air India has activated agencies at the airport to assist the passengers until such time that their journey can resume," an AI spokesperson said.

Indigo said in a statement that it was "cognisant of a situation involving flight 6E 98 from Dammam to Lucknow".

"The safety and security of our passengers and crew is our highest priority and we are working closely with the relevant authorities and taking all necessary precautions as per the guidelines," a spokesperson for the airline said.

The Dammam-Lucknow flight landed at the Jaipur airport following its diversion. The aircraft has been sent to an isolation bay, an official at the Jaipur airport said.

An Alliance Air official said all "precautionary measures" were being taken for the Amritsar-Dehradun-Delhi flight, which was undergoing security checks at the Dehradun airport.

Air India Express sources said their Madurai-Singapore flight was awaiting an approval from Singaporean authorities for landing.

The suspect X handle tagged the respective airlines' and some police handles, claiming that bombs were placed on these planes, sources said.

Four different X handles issued a similar threat to three international flights originating from Mumbai on Monday.

All the messages on Monday were declared a hoax after security and intelligence agencies as well as airline and airport operators carried out stipulated anti-terrorist security drills that are activated in case of bomb or hijack threats, sources said.

Officials said the BCAS has sought the help of Indian cyber-security agencies and police to trace the person or people behind these threats.