In a startling turn of events, a minor from Chhattisgarh has been apprehended for sending bomb threats to four flights using a fake social media account, which he created in his friend’s name, sources revealed. The youth, a class 11 dropout from Rajnandgaon, reportedly had a dispute with his friend over money and, in a bid for revenge, impersonated him on the platform X (formerly Twitter) to send the threats on October 14.
The threats caused major disruptions, with a New York-bound Air India flight being diverted to New Delhi for rescheduling, while two IndiGo flights to Muscat and Jeddah were delayed for hours as the planes underwent intensive security checks after being moved to isolation bays.
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Wed 16 Oct. 2024
Authorities arrested the minor in Rajnandgaon and are currently investigating whether a larger conspiracy may be at play behind the threats, which come at a time when bomb threats have been made against nearly a dozen Indian flights over the past two days. Despite the alarming nature of these threats, no suspicious devices or items were found on any of the planes. Mumbai Police have filed three FIRs in connection with the threats, while Delhi Police have registered six cases.
The Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu, took to X to express his condemnation of the threats, stating, “We are closely monitoring the situation and ensuring that every necessary measure is taken against such actions. We are committed to maintaining the highest security standards, with passenger safety being our top priority.”
Further raising concerns, a bomb threat was also made earlier today against an Akasa Air flight bound for Bengaluru, prompting the flight with over 180 passengers to return to New Delhi for security reasons.
In response to the surge of hoax threats, a high-level meeting was convened on Wednesday, involving key officials from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Intelligence Bureau, and Ministry of Home Affairs. Sources indicate that the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and other agencies are drafting a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to enhance coordination in handling such emergencies. The BCAS has also proposed stricter consequences for individuals responsible for hoax bomb threats, including placing them on the no-fly list.
The swift action taken by authorities underscores the serious implications of such threats on national security, with officials determined to prevent any recurrence.
