A troubling incident unfolded as seven flights, including an Air India aircraft bound for Chicago, received simultaneous bomb threats through the social media platform X. This alarming situation prompted immediate responses from security agencies, resulting in heightened safety measures and significant disruptions across various airports.
The bomb threats arose just one day after hoax threats affected three flights departing from Mumbai, raising serious concerns regarding passenger safety. In light of these new threats, security personnel swiftly executed counter-terrorism drills to ensure that all protocols were followed, leading to delays for several flights.
Alarming Simultaneous Threats
Among the flights impacted by these threats were an Air India Express flight from Jaipur to Bengaluru, a SpiceJet flight from Darbhanga to Mumbai, an Akasa Air flight from Bagdogra to Bengaluru, an Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago, an IndiGo flight from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, to Lucknow, an Alliance Air flight connecting Amritsar, Dehradun, and Delhi, as well as another Air India Express flight from Madurai to Singapore.
#ImportantUpdate pic.twitter.com/mvDm5mGLzg
— Air India (@airindia) October 15, 2024
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) acted swiftly, reaching out to cyber security agencies to investigate the matter. In a decisive move, the social media account responsible for issuing the threats was suspended to curb any further panic.
An Air India Express spokesperson addressed the situation, noting, “We, 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.”
Investigation Underway To Identify Perpetrators
As a result of the threats, the Air India flight to Chicago was rerouted to Canada for additional safety checks, while the SpiceJet flight from Darbhanga successfully landed in Mumbai after undergoing thorough security evaluations.
The social media account responsible for the threats tagged the respective airlines and various police departments, asserting that explosives had been placed on the targeted planes. This incident echoed a similar situation from Monday when four different accounts issued bomb threats for international flights leaving Mumbai.
Currently, authorities are collaborating with Indian cyber-security agencies and local police to identify the individuals behind these threats. The rapid actions taken by security forces highlight the serious nature of such incidents and the ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety of all air travelers.
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