Indian airlines have been hit by a wave of hoax bomb threats lately, forcing emergency landings and scrambling fighter jets on opposite sides of the globe. Nobody knows for sure where the hoaxes are coming from.
Air India, the country’s flag carrier, confirmed that “a number of threats” have been received in recent days, all of which have been found to be false.
On Tuesday, an Air India flight from New Delhi to Chicago made an emergency landing in Iqaluit, Canada, after a security threat was posted online. “As a precautionary measure, the flight was diverted,” Air India said. All 211 passengers and crew were evacuated to a secured area in the airport.
In a separate incident, Singapore scrambled two F-15 fighter jets to escort an Air India Express passenger plane away from populated areas after receiving an email bomb threat. “The threat prompted Singapore to activate its ground-based air defense systems and explosive ordnance disposal,” Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen said.
Other Indian carriers, including IndiGo and SpiceJet, have also faced delays and diversions due to hoax bomb threats. Air India said all threats are taken seriously and not to take chances. Still, it is working with authorities to ensure perpetrators are “held accountable for the disruption and inconvenience caused to passengers.“
The motives behind the threats remain unclear, and it is uncertain whether they are connected. India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation is meeting to discuss the situation.
The incidents come amid heightened tensions between India and Canada following Canada’s expulsion of six Indian diplomats. However, there is no indication that the bomb hoaxes are linked to the diplomatic spat.
Comment, Like 👍, share this article, and Follow us on our social media handles.
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
