Bomb Threats Rock Indian Aviation: Chaos, Arrests, and Financial Strain

Recently, a surge in bomb threats has disrupted India's aviation sector. Over six days, major airlines such as Vistara, IndiGo, Air India, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet received 70 bomb threats, causing several flights to divert or delay. The Indian Minister of Civil Aviation assured that these were isolated incidents, primarily involving minors and pranksters, with no underlying conspiracies.

In response, India's Bureau of Civil Aviation Security held a meeting in New Delhi on the 19th, directing airlines to follow standard threat response procedures and keep all stakeholders informed. Since the 14th, daily threats have been reported, with over 30 just on the 19th. Investigations reveal that some threats originated from IP addresses in Germany, Canada, and the United States, possibly masked via VPNs. Malicious social media accounts related to these threats have been suspended.

In a significant development, Mumbai police arrested a 17-year-old from Chhattisgarh who threatened four flights due to a financial dispute, intending to frame a friend. Three of these were international flights, leading to delays for two.

On the 15th, a serious incident involved an Air India Boeing 777 traveling from Delhi to Chicago. It was forced to land in a remote Canadian town due to a bomb threat. The flight, carrying over 200 passengers, was grounded for three and a half days, with eventual transport to the destination provided by charter. Estimated damages from this incident range between 150 million and 200 million rupees. Between the 13th and 17th, Air India received 40 bomb threats, with potential losses estimated at 600 million to 800 million rupees.

These frequent threats have sparked public concern and speculation about potential security vulnerabilities. The recent arrest and continued threats raise questions about the motives behind this spike and whether it aims to expose gaps in aviation security.