At least 10 Indian flights have been targeted over the last 48 hours with hoax bomb threats, resulting in long delays, diversions, and heightened security measures.
On Tuesday Singapore’s Air Force scrambled two fighter jets to escort an Air India Express flight following a bomb threat.
Earlier an Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago was forced to make a precautionary landing in Canada.
These incidents, which have also affected IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air, are part of a sudden surge in threats that began on Monday, with several of the threats being posted on X.
Indian authorities have yet to provide an official explanation for the increase in hoax threats, and investigations are ongoing.
The bomb threats have led to significant disruptions at airports, where strict security protocols were activated, involving bomb disposal squads, sniffer dogs, and police. Passengers and luggage were thoroughly re-screened, while security teams searched the planes, leading to costly delays for airlines.
International agencies, such as those in Singapore and Canada, have also been involved in responding to the threats.
Image credit: Praveen Thirumurugan
