The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) convened an urgent meeting with CEOs and representatives from various airlines in Delhi on Saturday to discuss a sudden increase in bomb threats affecting domestic and international flights. This alarming trend has sent security agencies into high alert.
On Saturday alone, more than 30 flights from major Indian airlines, including Air India, Vistara, IndiGo, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, Star Air, and Alliance Air, received bomb threats. This week, over 70 flights have reportedly encountered similar threats, although most have been confirmed as hoaxes.
Among the affected flights, Vistara reported threats to six of its services, while IndiGo and Akasa Air each faced threats to five flights. These threats were primarily communicated through social media platforms, causing widespread disruption across the aviation sector.
In one disturbing incident, a note was discovered in the lavatory of a Vistara flight claiming there was a bomb on board. The flights that received threats included:
- Vistara:
- UK106 (Singapore to Mumbai)
- UK027 (Mumbai to Frankfurt)
- UK107 (Mumbai to Singapore)
- UK121 (Delhi to Bangkok)
- UK131 (Mumbai to Colombo)
Following established protocols, relevant authorities were alerted, and all necessary security measures were implemented. For instance, Vistara flight UK624 from Udaipur to Mumbai was directed to an isolation bay for mandatory checks after landing due to a security concern.
IndiGo also addressed threats to five flights, including:
- 6E17 (Mumbai to Istanbul)
- 6E11 (Delhi to Istanbul)
- 6E184 (Jodhpur to Delhi)
- 6E108 (Hyderabad to Chandigarh)
- 6E58 (Jeddah to Mumbai)
Passengers on the flights to Istanbul disembarked safely, and all affected aircraft underwent thorough inspections.
Akasa Air faced similar issues with five of its flights, including QP 1323 from Bengaluru to Guwahati and QP 1405 from Hyderabad to Delhi. After inspections, all aircraft were deemed safe and allowed to continue operations.
The influx of bomb threats has not only disrupted flights but also caused significant distress among passengers and airport staff, as the affected planes were moved to isolation bays to follow security protocols. The civil aviation ministry is now considering implementing stricter regulations to deter such hoaxes, including placing individuals responsible for these threats on a no-fly list.
As investigations continue, the handle on X (formerly Twitter) used to issue some of the threats has already been deactivated, reflecting ongoing efforts to mitigate the risks associated with these incidents.
The recent surge in bomb threats directed at Indian airlines highlights critical challenges in aviation security. As BCAS and airline officials work together to address these threats, there is a pressing need for robust measures to ensure passenger safety and maintain confidence in the aviation sector.