More than 25 domestic and international flights operated by Indian carriers received bomb threats on Friday, as the wave of hoax threats targeting the aviation sector continues.
Flights operated by IndiGo, Vistara, SpiceJet, and Air India were among those affected. IndiGo alone reported threats against flights including 6E 87 (Kozhikode to Dammam), 6E 2099 (Udaipur to Delhi), 6E 11 (Delhi to Istanbul), 6E 58 (Jeddah to Mumbai), 6E 17 (Mumbai to Istanbul), 6E 108 (Hyderabad to Chandigarh), and 6E 133 (Pune to Jodhpur).
“Flight 6E 2099, scheduled from Udaipur to Delhi, was relocated to the isolation bay before take-off as per security guidelines. All passengers were safely disembarked,” said an IndiGo spokesperson.
Threat Surge Overwhelms Airlines
In the past 12 days, Indian carriers have reported over 275 bomb threats, primarily originating from social media. Hoaxes have led to delays, diversions, and extensive searches, impacting operational efficiency and passenger schedules.
On Thursday, the Centre instructed social media platforms, including Meta and X, to cooperate in sharing data on individuals behind hoax threats. A source from a recent IT Ministry meeting stated, “The Ministry asked social media companies to promptly provide information related to these threats.”
Recent Security Incidents
Escalating threats have also resulted in serious incidents. Last week, Royal Air Force fighter jets intercepted an Air India flight from Mumbai to London after a bomb threat. Similarly, Singapore Armed Forces scrambled fighter jets to escort an Air India Express flight from Madurai, and the Nepalese Army deployed a bomb squad to Kathmandu airport following a threat to a Vistara flight from Delhi.