A wave of bomb threats has gripped Indian airlines, disrupting flights and raising concerns about safety and security. In a recent incident at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi, a 25-year-old man, Shubham Upadhyay, was apprehended for allegedly sending bomb threat messages via email to multiple flights. Upadhyay, a resident of Uttam Nagar in Delhi, confessed to authorities that he was motivated by similar news reports he had seen on television, seeking attention through his actions.
The extent of these threats is alarming. On Saturday alone, a total of 33 flights received bomb threats, including 11 each from IndiGo, Air India, and Vistara. In the past 13 days, over 300 flights operated by Indian carriers have been targeted by hoax bomb threats, with the majority of these threats originating on social media platforms.
The threats have sparked immediate security protocols at airports, causing delays and disruptions to travel plans. The Delhi Airport received two suspicious messages on October 26th and 29th, triggering heightened security measures. However, investigations revealed these threats to be hoaxes, as confirmed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (IGI) Usha Rangnani. “Immediate action was taken, and standard security protocols were followed, but the threat was found to be a hoax,” Rangnani stated.
This incident is just the latest in a troubling trend of hoax bomb threats that began on October 14th. The series of threats began on October 16th when a Bengaluru-bound Akasa Air flight was forced to return to Delhi after receiving a bomb threat. Two days later, another teenager was apprehended for threatening four flights, including an Air India flight from Mumbai to New York, which had to be diverted to New Delhi.
Authorities are taking a serious approach to curb this growing problem. The Delhi Police have registered eight separate FIRs related to bomb threats against more than 100 domestic and international flights over the past ten days. Last week, Mumbai Police arrested a 17-year-old for similar threats.
In response to this alarming surge in hoax threats, the Information and Technology Ministry has issued directives to social media platforms, urging them to take proactive measures. The ministry has called for stricter enforcement of due diligence obligations and prompt removal or disabling of access to misinformation within the prescribed timelines under the IT rules.
The arrest of Shubham Upadhyay underscores the need for heightened vigilance and swift action against individuals who attempt to disrupt public safety through false threats. Authorities are working diligently to investigate these incidents, identify those responsible, and deter future attempts at spreading misinformation and causing panic. The focus remains on ensuring the safety of air travelers and maintaining the integrity of the aviation sector in India.
