Airlines Bomb Threat: MeitY Criticises X For Spreading Hoax Alerts, Asks For Details Of Preventive Measures

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu assured the public that the Centre is actively addressing the threats while maintaining passenger safety.

Security at airports has been tightened, with additional checks and increased surveillance, including more CCTV cameras.

Source : Johannes Kirchherr/Pixabay

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has strongly criticised social media platform X (formerly Twitter) over its role in spreading hoax bomb threats targeting airlines. Joint Secretary Sanket S Bhondve led a virtual meeting with representatives from airlines and social media platforms like X and Meta (parent of Facebook and Instagram), condemning X for allegedly enabling criminal activity, reported NDTV.

The meeting was called after over 120 bomb threats were reported on flights operated by Indian airlines in recent days, with 30 threats received just yesterday by IndiGo, Vistara, and Air India. 

As reported by NDTV based on source inputs, Bhondve pressed X for details on measures the platform is taking to prevent the spread of such dangerous rumours, with officials stressing that the situation was unacceptable.

Centre Actively Addressing Threats

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, addressing the issue on Monday, assured the public that the Centre is actively addressing the threats while maintaining passenger safety. He warned that individuals responsible for circulating hoaxes could face severe consequences, including being added to a no-fly list.

To strengthen the legal framework, the Government plans to amend the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation Act. This would extend legal actions to include threats made while aircraft are on the ground, as the current law primarily covers in-flight incidents. Minister Naidu emphasised that the Government is pushing for changes to make such crimes punishable.

Investigation Ongoing

While acknowledging that these threats have caused widespread panic and disruptions, including international flight diversions, Naidu remained cautious about confirming any conspiracy theories. He stated that an investigation is ongoing and urged the public to wait for its findings.

Security at airports has been tightened, with additional checks and increased surveillance, including more CCTV cameras. Despite the hoaxes, Naidu stressed the importance of treating each threat seriously to ensure public safety.

The Government, in coordination with law enforcement, is working swiftly to address the situation while prioritising security measures.