Last updated:26 October 2024, 21:53 IST

In 13 days, more than 300 flights operated by the Indian airlines have received hoax bomb threats. Most of the threats were issued through social media.

Several flights from IndiGo, Air India and Akasa Airlines were disrupted following bomb threats. (Representative image)

As many as 33 flights received bomb threats on Saturday, according to sources.

In 13 days, more than 300 flights operated by the Indian airlines have received hoax bomb threats. Most of the threats were issued through social media.

Amid the threats, the IT Ministry has asked social media platforms to comply with due diligence obligations and immediately remove or disable access to incorrect information within the strict timelines prescribed under IT rules.

The sources in the know said that 11 flights each of IndiGo, Air India and Vistara received the threats on Saturday.

In a statement, an Air India spokesperson said a number of its flights were subject to security threats received on social media on Saturday.

“Following the established protocols, the relevant authorities were immediately alerted and all security procedures are strictly followed, as per the guidelines of the regulatory authorities,” the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, a 25-year-old man was arrested for posting threatening messages to a flight at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport here, police said on Saturday.

Shubham Upadhyay, a resident of Uttam Nagar in the national capital, was arrested for posting two bomb threat messages to garner attention after seeing similar news reports on TV, police said.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (IGI) Usha Rangnani said during the night between October 26 and 29, two suspicious and potential bomb threat messages were received at the IGI airport through an email account.

“Immediate action was taken and standard security protocols were followed, but the threat turned out to be a hoax,” she said.

A case under section 3(1)(d) of the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation Act (SUA SCA), 1982 and 351(4), Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered and an investigation was initiated.

During the investigation, the origin of the messages was traced to an account registered to Upadhyay.

Based on manual intelligence and technical surveillance, Upadhyay was arrested and interrogated. He is an unemployed male in class 12 pass.

Rangnani said Upadhyay has admitted to sending the messages after seeing similar news reports on television. He sent the messages to attract attention, she added.

The matter is currently under further investigation, she says.

In a statement, Rangnani said, “We assure the public that all necessary security measures are in place and there is no cause for alarm. We urge everyone to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.” The Delhi Police has registered eight separate FIRs in connection with bomb threats against more than 100 domestic and international flights in the last 10 days.

The first case was registered on October 16 following a bomb threat received via X targeting an Akasa Air flight at Bengaluru. The aircraft, which was carrying over 180 passengers, was forced to return to the national capital.

Police wrote to social media platform X the next day seeking details of accounts that posted threatening messages, but the force was unable to obtain information about the user’s ID or domain.

Amid a spate of hoax bomb threats against several airlines, the Ministry of Information and Technology has asked social media platforms to observe due diligence obligations and immediately remove or disable access to false information within the strict timelines prescribed under IT rules.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Agencies)