New Delhi/Ayodhya. A bomb threat message was received on seven flights on Tuesday through a post on social media platform ‘X’, prompting security agencies to carry out specific anti-terrorist drills at various airports. Official sources gave this information.
A day earlier, bomb threats were issued on three international flights departing from Mumbai through social media posts, causing problems for hundreds of passengers and crew members. However, these posts were later termed as rumours.
Official sources said that an ‘X’ account issued bomb threat posts on seven planes, including Air India Express flight from Jaipur to Bengaluru via Ayodhya (flight number IX765), SpiceJet flight from Darbhanga to Mumbai. Air India flight (flight number SG116), Akasa Air flight from Bagdogra to Bengaluru (flight number QP1373), Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago (USA) (flight number AI127), Air India flight from Dammam (Saudi Arabia) to Lucknow. Indigo flight (flight number 6E98), Alliance Air flight from Amritsar to Delhi via Dehradun (flight number 9I650) and Air India Express flight from Madurai to Singapore (flight number IX684) are included.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) wrote a letter to cyber security agencies regarding the incident, after which X has suspended the said account. An Air India Express spokesperson told PTI that they and some other airlines received a security threat from an unverified social media account.
The spokesperson said, “In response, security protocols were immediately implemented as per the instructions of the government-appointed Bomb Threat Assessment Committee. “The aircraft was landed safely and will be made available for operations again after following all mandatory safety procedures.” The SpiceJet plane landed safely at Mumbai airport and was taken to the ‘isolation bay’ as a precautionary measure.
A SpiceJet spokesperson said, “All passengers disembarked normally and security agencies were immediately informed. “After rigorous safety checks, the aircraft has been cleared for further operations.” An Akasa Air spokesperson said that the company’s plane received a bomb threat after take off.
The spokesperson said, “The pilot followed all necessary emergency procedures and landed the aircraft safely at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru at 1.39 pm. All passengers were deboarded from the aircraft, after which local authorities conducted mandatory security checks and cleared the aircraft for the next flight.” After a bomb threat was received on an Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago, it was diverted to Iqaluit Airport in Canada for security check.
Air India spokesperson said, “The aircraft and passengers are being re-screened as per the prescribed security protocol. “Air India has activated agencies at the airport to assist passengers until their travel resumes.” IndiGo said in a statement that it is “aware of the developments related to flight 6E98 from Dammam to Lucknow.” An IndiGo spokesperson said, “The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority. “We are working closely with the relevant authorities and taking all necessary precautions as per the guidelines.” The flight from Dammam to Lucknow landed at Jaipur airport. An airport official said that the plane has been taken to the ‘isolation bay’.
An Alliance Air official said that all “precautionary measures” are being implemented regarding the Amritsar-Dehradun-Delhi flight. This aircraft is being security checked at Dehradun airport. Air India Express sources said that their Madurai-Singapore flight is awaiting clearance from Singapore authorities to land.
Sources said that ‘X’ account tagged the accounts of aviation companies and police and posted threats about bombs being planted in seven planes. On Monday, similar threatening posts were issued from four different ‘X’ accounts in relation to three international flights departing from Mumbai. According to officials, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has sought help from Indian cyber security agencies and police to trace the person or group behind these threats.
Air India’s Delhi-Chicago flight diverted to Canada after bomb threat
An Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago was diverted to an airport in Canada after a bomb threat on Tuesday. An airline official gave this information. The airline said in a statement that flight AI 127 from Delhi to Chicago on October 15, 2024 has landed at Iqaluit Airport in Canada as a precautionary measure following a security threat posted online.
The statement said, “The aircraft and passengers are being re-examined as per the prescribed security protocol. “Air India has activated agencies at the airport to assist passengers until travel resumes.” The officer said that there was a threat of a bomb being planted in this flight. On Monday, after a bomb threat, an Air India flight from Mumbai to New York was diverted towards Delhi. A thorough investigation was conducted following standard security protocols and no suspicious objects were found inside the aircraft.
Air India also said that along with it, other local airlines have faced many threats in recent times.
“However, all the threats later turned out to be false,” it said. As a responsible airline operator all threats are taken seriously. We regret the inconvenience caused to passengers.” The airline said it is extending full cooperation to the authorities in identifying the perpetrators of such threats so that they can be held accountable for the disruption and inconvenience caused to passengers. Air India also said that it will consider legal action against those responsible to compensate for the loss caused to the airline.
Air India Express plane threatened to be bombed, emergency landing made at Ayodhya airport
An Air India Express plane received a bomb threat on Tuesday, following which it made an emergency landing at Ayodhya airport in Uttar Pradesh. A senior officer gave this information. Confirming the emergency landing, airport director Vinod Kumar told PTI that the plane was coming from Jaipur. According to airline officials, the emergency situation arose due to a threat received from an unverified account on social media.
Air India Express spokesperson told PTI in a statement, “Air India Express along with some other operators received a threat from an unverified social media account. In response, security protocols were immediately activated as directed by the government-appointed Bomb Threat Assessment Committee. The flight landed safely and the aircraft will be cleared to fly only after following all mandatory safety procedures.”
There were 132 passengers on board the Boeing 737-Max 8 aircraft. According to an airline official, the plane was coming from Jaipur and was going to Bengaluru after a brief stopover in Ayodhya. The plane was supposed to land at Ayodhya airport at 2 pm, but it landed at 2:06 pm. The official told ‘PTI-Bhasha’ at 4 pm that earlier it was to take off at 2:55 pm, but now it has been rescheduled for 5 pm. The operation of commercial flights at Marish Valmiki International Airport located in Ayodhya Dham was started earlier this year.