In the past 48 hours, ten flights, including an Air India aircraft carrying 211 passengers from Delhi to Chicago, were the target of bomb threats received via social media, prompting security agencies to launch counter-terrorism drills at various airports across India.

On Tuesday, seven bomb threats were sent through the social media platform X, while three bomb threats were received for international flights departing from Mumbai on Monday. All the threats, later determined to be hoaxes, caused significant disruptions and heightened security protocols.

Among the targeted flights were Air India Express IX765 (Jaipur to Bengaluru via Ayodhya), SpiceJet SG116 (Darbhanga to Mumbai), Akasa Air QP1373 (Bagdogra to Bengaluru), Air India AI127 (Delhi to Chicago), IndiGo 6E98 (Dammam to Lucknow), Alliance Air 9I650 (Amritsar to Dehradun), and Air India Express IX684 (Madurai to Singapore).

Following the threats, cybersecurity agencies suspended the X account responsible for sending the bomb alerts, according to reports by PTI.

In one incident, Singapore scrambled two F-15 combat jets to escort Air India Express flight IX684, which was traveling from Madurai to Singapore. The aircraft was kept away from populated areas until it landed safely at Singapore Changi Airport around 10:04 PM on Tuesday. Investigations into the threat are ongoing.

Top Security Responses to Bomb Threats:
SpiceJet SG116: The aircraft landed safely at Mumbai Airport, where it was directed to an isolation area for inspection.
Akasa Air QP1373: The flight landed safely at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport after receiving a bomb threat.
Air India AI127: This flight was redirected to Canada’s Iqaluit Airport following an online security threat.
IndiGo 6E98: The flight from Dammam to Lucknow was diverted to Jaipur after receiving a bomb threat.
Alliance Air 9I650: Security checks were carried out on the Amritsar-Dehradun-Delhi flight at Dehradun Airport as a precautionary measure.
Air India Express IX684: The flight from Madurai to Singapore was delayed, awaiting clearance from Singaporean authorities.
Additionally, on Monday, bomb threats were made against three international flights departing from Mumbai. No suspicious items were found on any of the aircraft after thorough security checks.

Mumbai Police Investigation
The Mumbai Police issued notices to a teenager, his father, and another individual from Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, for questioning in connection with the threats against Monday’s flights. An Air India flight bound for New York was diverted to New Delhi, while two IndiGo flights were delayed. In separate incidents, two IndiGo flights—one bound for Muscat and another for Jeddah—also received bomb threats, leading to their relocation to isolation bays for further inspections.

Authorities, including the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), are working closely with Indian cybersecurity agencies and law enforcement to trace the origins of the threats and ensure the safety of air travel.

[With agency inputs]