Bomb Threats to Flights Continue: Vistara and Akasa Air Affected, Government Mulls Strict Action

New Delhi, 19th October 2024: The recent spate of bomb threats to flights shows no signs of abating. On Friday, a Vistara flight (UK17) traveling from Delhi to London was diverted to Frankfurt after receiving a bomb threat. The flight made an emergency landing at Frankfurt airport, where it underwent mandatory security checks.

A Vistara spokesperson confirmed on Saturday morning that the plane had landed safely, and inspections were underway. The flight will proceed to its final destination after receiving clearance from security agencies.

In a related incident, Akasa Air reported that its flight QP 1366, scheduled to fly from Bengaluru to Mumbai on Friday, received a security alert shortly before departure. As with the Vistara flight, the threat was investigated, and no danger was found.

These incidents are part of a disturbing trend, with nearly 40 flights receiving bomb threats in recent days. Fortunately, all threats have turned out to be hoaxes.

The Indian government has expressed serious concern over the growing number of false bomb threats. The Civil Aviation Ministry is considering implementing stricter regulations to prevent such incidents. One of the proposals under consideration includes placing individuals responsible for hoaxes on a no-fly list.

Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu stressed the need for strong measures to address the issue. “We are reviewing the rules to ensure that severe action is taken against those responsible for bomb threats,” Naidu said, dismissing the possibility of a broader conspiracy behind the recent surge in threats.

Mumbai Police has registered seven cases in the past three days related to bomb threats. In response to the growing concerns, cybersecurity agencies have suspended or blocked 10 social media accounts linked to the spread of these hoaxes. Most of these accounts were active on the platform X (formerly known as Twitter).

According to sources, these actions were taken after a joint analysis by cyber, aviation security, and intelligence agencies.

In a bizarre twist, a bomb threat to an Air India flight from Mumbai to New York earlier this week led to the detention of a minor. Mumbai Police traveled to Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh, where the juvenile responsible for the hoax was taken into custody.

Authorities are working to curb this alarming trend and ensure the safety of air travel, with further actions expected in the coming days.