Airport staffers and security agencies on Tuesday went into a tizzy to undertake specific counter-terrorist drills at various airports after five planes, including one bound for the United States, received bomb-threat messages through a social media handle on Tuesday.
The threats via microblogging platform X came a day after five hoax bomb threat messages to three international flights, a mail train and a university on Monday, caused trouble to hundreds of passengers and airline crew.
According to sources, an X handle issued threats on Tuesday to five flights, an Air India Express flight from Jaipur to Bengaluru via Ayodhya (IX765), a SpiceJet flight from Darbhanga to Mumbai (SG116), an Akasa Air flight from Bagdogra to Bengaluru (QP 1373), an Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago (AI 127) and an Indigo flight from Dammam (Saudi Arabia) to Lucknow (6E 98).
The Air India Express aircraft underwent a security check at the Ayodhya airport. The SpiceJet and Akasa Air planes have landed, according to flight-tracking websites.
An Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago was diverted to Iqaluit Airport in Canada following a bomb threat. “Flight Al127 operating from Delhi to Chicago on October 15, 2024, was the subject of a security threat posted online and, as a precautionary measure, has landed at Iqaluit Airport in Canada,” the airline said.
It further said, “Air India notes that it, and other local airlines, have been subject to a number of threats in recent days. Though all have subsequently been found to be hoaxes, as a responsible airline operator all threats are taken seriously.”
An Ayodhya-bound Air India Express flight also received a bomb threat, which was sent via phone call for the IX 765 flight that flew from Jaipur at 12.25 pm. The Boeing 737 Max8 aircraft with call sign AXB765 landed at Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya airport by 1.59 pm. The aircraft is currently parked in an isolated bay area of Ayodhya airport, while passengers have been alighted from the aircraft.
The SpiceJet aircraft landed safely at the Mumbai Airport and was directed to an isolation bay as a precautionary measure. “All passengers disembarked normally, and security agencies were immediately notified. After thorough security checks, the aircraft has been cleared for further operations,” a SpiceJet spokesperson said. An Akasa Air spokesperson said their flight received a security alert on board.
“The captain followed all required emergency procedures and landed safely at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru at 13:39 hours. All passengers were deplaned and the local authorities undertook the necessary safety and security checks after which the aircraft was released for operations,” the spokesperson said.
Indigo said in a statement that it was “cognisant of a situation involving flight 6E 98 from Dammam to Lucknow”. The Dammam-Lucknow flight landed at the Jaipur airport following its diversion. The aircraft has been sent to an isolation bay, an official at the Jaipur airport said.
The X handle tagged the airline and police handles, claiming that bombs were placed on these planes, the sources said. Four different X handles had issued a similar threat to three international flights originating from Mumbai on Monday.
All the messages on Monday were declared a hoax after security and intelligence agencies as well as airlines and airport operators carried out stipulated anti-terrorist security drills that are activated in case of bomb or hijack threats, the sources said. Officials said the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has sought the help of Indian cyber-security agencies and police to trace the person or people behind these threats.
