SpiceJet announced on Wednesday that it had received bomb threat messages concerning two of its flights via their official X (formerly Twitter) handle. A spokesperson for the airline confirmed that all necessary safety protocols were immediately activated, and the relevant authorities were promptly notified.
Both aircraft were safely evacuated, and after thorough inspections and securing the necessary approvals, they were cleared for further operations. In the past two days, around 13 Indian flights, including several international ones, have been targeted with similar bomb threats, although no suspicious items have been discovered on any of the planes.
“On October 16, 2024, SpiceJet’s X handle received a direct message indicating a bomb threat on two flights. The concerned authorities were immediately informed, and the laid-down safety protocols were followed. Passengers on both aircraft disembarked safely. After receiving the necessary clearances, the aircraft were released for further operations,” the airline’s statement read.
Some flights were diverted, while others experienced significant delays as airlines re-screened passengers. Most of the social media accounts responsible for these false bomb threats have been traced to locations outside India and have since been suspended. Cybersecurity agencies are actively monitoring accounts linked to these hoaxes.
In response to these incidents, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has requested a detailed report from the Ministry of Civil Aviation. A senior MHA official stated that security agencies, including the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Bureau of Civil Aviation, National Investigation Agency (NIA), and Intelligence Bureau (IB), have been directed to compile and submit a comprehensive report.
“Senior MHA officials have instructed all concerned aviation security agencies to prepare and submit their findings at the earliest. The central intelligence agency will oversee the investigation to assess if there is a coordinated conspiracy to damage the Indian aviation sector’s reputation,” the official said.
Additionally, the Delhi Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) and have launched an investigation into the bomb threat messages.