A surge in hoax bomb threats has shaken Indian airlines in recent weeks, with multiple flights targeted by false alarms. The latest incident involved an IndiGo flight arriving in Visakhapatnam from Chennai on October 29, where authorities received a message about a bomb threat tweet from an account named AdamLanza202. This tweet mentioned several IndiGo flights, including the one in question, prompting immediate security measures. The flight was safely landed in an isolation bay, and security checks were conducted according to standard operating procedures.
This incident is not isolated. On the same day, 32 Air India flights received similar bomb threats, according to India Today. This follows a string of similar incidents in the past week, including seven Indian carriers receiving threats through social media posts on Monday. While these threats turned out to be false, they caused significant disruption and anxiety among passengers and airline staff.
The alarming trend began last Sunday, when at least 50 flights operated by Indian airlines were targeted by bomb threats. One notable incident involved an Akasa Airlines flight arriving from Bengaluru, carrying 173 passengers. The aircraft landed safely after receiving a bomb threat, prompting an immediate and thorough inspection of the plane and its passengers.
In the past two weeks alone, security agencies have received over 400 hoax calls, raising serious concerns about the potential impact on passenger safety and national security. Mumbai police have taken action, registering a case against an unidentified individual after three airlines received threats on their X handles. The threats, which originated from an X user identifying themselves as “I want to slit your throat,” were deemed to be a hoax after verification.
These incidents highlight the growing problem of cybercrime and the potential for disruption to crucial infrastructure, such as air travel. Authorities are investigating the source of these threats, working to ensure passenger safety and prevent further disruptions to air travel. This issue underscores the need for robust security measures and proactive strategies to counter the spread of misinformation and malicious online activity.
