Recently, Indian investigators discovered that a series of bomb threats against airlines in India originated from accounts in the UK and Germany. This alarming news comes after more than 20 flights in the country faced such threats this week, creating a wave of panic among passengers and authorities alike. The Indian Express reported that Indian agencies have requested X (formerly known as Twitter) to provide the IP addresses of the accounts responsible for these posts and to remove them from the platform.
The situation escalated quickly, with three bomb threats on Monday, ten on Tuesday, and at least six more on Wednesday. By Thursday, 14 additional flights received threats. Investigators have confirmed that these threats appear to be hoaxes, but they are still taking them seriously, ramping up security measures at airports across the nation.
India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, stated that initial investigations have not suggested any organized conspiracy. Instead, it seems that many of the threats have come from minors and pranksters. In response to the chaos, New Delhi is considering new laws to address these hoaxes and prevent future incidents.
A Disturbing Pattern
Investigators are working to identify a “pattern” behind these threats, which have been made through social media and phone calls. A security official mentioned that once one threat is posted, similar ones tend to appear shortly after, indicating a coordinated effort to disturb the aviation sector and create fear.
In a notable incident, police in Mumbai arrested a 17-year-old boy for allegedly posting bomb threats related to three flights. He reportedly created an account on X using a friend’s name after a dispute and posted the threats from there. This incident is not isolated; earlier in the year, several minors were detained for making similar threats against airports. One case involved a Class 9 student who was influenced by the news he saw on social media about children sending hoax emails.
Ongoing Concerns
Throughout the year, over 40 airports in India have received bomb threats, leading to extensive security checks that lasted for hours. Fortunately, all these threats have been proven false. However, the recent spike in threats remains unexplained, leaving officials and travelers on edge.
Interestingly, these threats have emerged during a time of heightened tension between India and Canada, following allegations that Indian agents were involved in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader. This backdrop adds another layer of complexity to the situation, particularly since one of the flights that received a security threat had to make an emergency landing in Canada while traveling to Chicago.
The Bigger Picture
Adding to the tension, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent leader of the Khalistan movement— which seeks an independent Sikh state— has issued multiple threats against India, including specific warnings to Air India. The combination of these events raises questions about the safety of air travel in India and the motivations behind such disruptive acts.
As investigators continue to trace the origins of these threats and identify those responsible, the aviation sector in India remains on high alert, ensuring that passengers can travel safely amidst the uncertainty.
