Akasa Air revealed that it received bomb threats across 15 flights on Sunday, all of which were cleared for operation after thorough inspections….reports Asian Lite News
Indian airlines faced a significant security scare on Sunday as bomb threats targeted at least 50 flights, leading to the diversion of two flights, according to sources. Over the past 14 days, Indian carriers have reported more than 350 hoax bomb threats, with most of these originating from social media channels.
Akasa Air revealed that it received bomb threats across 15 flights on Sunday, all of which were cleared for operation after thorough inspections. Meanwhile, IndiGo and Vistara were similarly impacted, with IndiGo receiving 18 threats and Vistara receiving 17. Due to security concerns, two IndiGo flights—6E 133 from Pune to Jodhpur and 6E 87 from Kozhikode to Dammam—were diverted to Ahmedabad and Mumbai respectively. Additional IndiGo flights facing security-related threats included routes between Delhi and Istanbul, Jeddah and Mumbai, and several other domestic routes.
Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu responded by stating that the government is actively considering measures to prevent further incidents, including banning those responsible for hoax threats from flying. He highlighted ongoing coordination with international agencies, law enforcement, and the Intelligence Bureau to address this concerning trend.
In parallel, the IT Ministry has asked social media platforms to enforce diligence and promptly remove or restrict access to misinformation under IT rules, aimed at curbing these fake bomb threats proliferating online. To reinforce airline security further, the government is also contemplating amendments to two Civil Aviation laws.
In an advisory, the IT Ministry said such hoax bomb threats are mostly misinformation that is massively disrupting the public order, operations of airlines and security of airline travellers.
Indian airlines have received more than 100 hoax bomb threats in a few days, forcing delays and emergency landings.
The advisory further stated that the intermediaries including social media intermediaries must observe their due diligence obligations that include the prompt removal or disabling access to such unlawful information specified under the IT Rules, 2021, including hoax bomb threats, well within the strict timelines as prescribed under the IT Rules, 2021.
Apart from removing or disabling access to such misinformation under the IT Rules, 2021 as part of the reasonable efforts to be undertaken, “there is an additional liability on concerned intermediaries under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) to mandatorily report certain offences perceived to be committed by any user of their platform that includes, among others, any act with the intent to threaten or likely to threaten the unity, integrity, sovereignty, security, or economic security of India”.
Amid a surge in hoax bomb threats, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has expressed serious concern, saying the government is committed to taking strict action against those responsible for these malicious acts.