2 More SpiceJet Planes Receive Bomb Threats, 14 Flights Affected In 3 Days, FIR Lodged

SpiceJet received a bomb threat for two of its flights on Wednesday, October 16. The threats were received on direct message by the airline's social media handle on X.

Amidst the surge in bomb threats to airlines in India, SpiceJet on Wednesday also received a bomb threat concerning two of its flights. The threats were sent via direct message on X (formerly Twitter). An FIR has been lodged at the IGI Airport Police Station and investigation is underway. So far, the police has repsonded to seven incidents.

The authorities concerned were informed immediately about the threats and the safety protocols laid down by the airlines were followed. The passengers on board both the aircrafts were disembarked safely, a SpiceJet Spokesperson said.

After authorities granted necessary approvals, the aircrafts were released for further operations.

According to Delhi Police, the IGI Airport Police has responded to seven incidents involving reported bomb threats in October. However, all of them were found to be hoaxes after thorough verifications and inspection. Delhi Police stated that legal action has been initiated against those found to be involved in raising the false alarms. The actions was taken to ensure stringent measures against misuse and maintain the safety and security of passengers and airport operations.

An FIR has been lodged at the IGI Airport Police Station under sections 217 and 351(4) of the BNS, as well as section 3(1)(d) of The Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Civil Aviation Act, 1982, in connection with the recent hoax bomb threat concerning Akasa Air flight.

Delhi Police said that all accounts responsible for spreading these false threats have been suspended to prevent further misuse and ensure public safety.

Mumbai Cops Summon Minor Boy, Father From Chhattisgarh

A teenage boy, his father, and another person from Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon were issued a notice by the Mumbai police to join questioning in connection with bomb threats posted on social media targeting three flights, news agency PTI reported.        

Three international flights originating from Mumbai had received bomb threats on Monday. On Monday, a bomb threat was posted on X for an Air India's Mumbai-New York flight and IndiGo's Mumbai to Muscat and Mumbai to Jeddah flights, Rajnandgaon Superintendent of Police Mohit Garg said.

This tweet's connection was established with Rajnandgaon, following which Raipur Cyber Cell, Rajnandgaon's Kotwali Police, and Cyber Cell collected electronic data related to the case. A team of Mumbai police also reached Rajnandgaon on October 14.

Thereafter, a notice was issued to a 17-year-old boy, resident of the city, his father, and the person whose X account was used. The police summoned them for questioning and further action to Mumbai. A case has also been registered by the Mumbai police against an unidentified person and the X handle. 

Hoax Bomb Threats So Far In Last 3 Days

In the past three days, Indian airlines have received a total of 12 threats, the latest being the bomb threats to a Bengaluru-bound Akasa Air flight and Delhi-bound IndiGo flight. With today's threats to SpiceJet, this tally has now reached to 14.

After the bomb scare, the Akasa Air flight QP 1335, with 177 persons, including three infants, and seven crew members on board, returned to Delhi on Wednesday. IndiGo's 6E 651 Mumbai-Delhi flight was isolated after being redirected to Ahmedabad. All the passengers were safely disembarked.

On Tuesday, an Air India Delhi-Chicago flight, Ayodhya-Bengaluru Air India Express, Dammam-Lucknow IndiGo flight, a SpiceJet flight from Darbhanga to Mumbai (SG116), an Alliance Air Amritsar-Dehradun-Delhi flight (9I 650), an Akasa Air flight from Bagdogra to Bengaluru (QP 1373), and an Air India Express flight (IX 684) from Madurai to Singapore had received bomb threats.

Two other IndiGo flights and one Air India flight received hoax threats on Monday. These included an IndiGo flighta 6E1275 bound for Muscat and flight 6E56 heading to Jeddah, and an Air India flight AI119 from Mumbai to New York's JFK Airport.

A Parliamentary Standing Committee held a meeting at 11 am on October 16 over the issue. This was preceded by another meeting called by Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu with Civil Aviation Ministry and DGCA officials.

Some of the culprits involved in the hoax threats have been identified and the dark web is being monitored.