In response to the recent spate of hoax bomb threats targeting various flights, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu assured that authorities are taking swift action to address the issue. While refraining from speculating on any larger conspiracy, the minister stated that initial findings suggest the calls are being made by minors and pranksters.
“Action is being taken on this. We can’t comment on any kind of a conspiracy but from whatever little bit we know these calls are coming from some minors and pranksters. These are all minor and isolated incidents. There is no kind of conspiracy that we can comment on. From our side, we are going to see what best we can do. We are talking to the airlines, security agencies, within the ministry also. Consultations are going on,” Naidu informed.
On Wednesday, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu stated that law enforcement agencies are actively investigating all bomb threats against airlines, and the government is closely monitoring the situation.
7-8 social media handles suspended
Over half a dozen social media accounts that issued hoax bomb threats to multiple Indian airlines this week have been suspended or blocked by cybersecurity agencies, according to official sources on Thursday.
The accounts were analysed by a joint team comprising cyber experts, aviation security personnel, and intelligence agencies. Orders were then issued to suspend the accounts as they continued to post “mindless” threats.
Since Monday, about seven to eight social media accounts—most of them on X (formerly Twitter)—have been blocked after sending out hoax bomb and terrorist attack threats targeting nearly all Indian airliners, including domestic and international routes.
Agencies found recurring phrases in these fake threats, including words like “bombs,” “blood will spread everywhere,” “explosive devices,” “this is not a joke,” “you will all die,” and “bomb rakhwa dia hai” (Hindi for “a bomb has been placed”).
FIRs and cyber patrolling
In response to these threats, authorities have registered police FIRs in each case and ramped up cyber patrolling on social media and the dark web to monitor for similar trends or connections.
Efforts are underway to trace the primary email registrations and geographic locations behind these accounts, with some suspected to be operating from overseas. The gathered information is being shared with local police departments.
Impact on Indian airlines
Since Monday, more than two dozen Indian airlines have been affected by these hoax threats, which have all been declared false after security checks. In two instances, fighter jets from Singapore and Canada were scrambled to assist Indian flights carrying hundreds of passengers.
These fake threats have caused significant disruption, inconveniencing passengers and crew, and imposing a heavy burden on airline logistics and security operations, according to officials.
In connection with the hoax bomb threats posted on social media targeting three flights from Mumbai on October 14, a 17-year-old boy from Chhattisgarh has been detained by Mumbai Police.