In the past 48 hours, at least ten flights in India have been affected by hoax bomb threats, leading to significant delays and diversions.
Airlines such as Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air have all received threats, with flights being diverted or delayed as a precaution.
One of the most alarming incidents occurred on Tuesday when Singapore’s Air Force scrambled two fighter jets to escort an Air India Express plane following a bomb threat.
The flight, en route from Madurai, India, to Singapore, was diverted away from populated areas before landing safely at Changi Airport.
Singapore’s Defence Minister, Ng Eng Hen, confirmed the involvement of the country’s fighter jets and said the incident is under investigation by local authorities.
Just hours before, an Air India flight traveling from Delhi to Chicago made an emergency landing at Iqaluit Airport in Canada after receiving a bomb threat.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating, and passengers were transferred to their final destination on a Canadian Air Force plane. It remains unclear when the original aircraft will be cleared to resume its journey.
The sudden surge in hoax threats began on Monday when three international flights departing from Mumbai were delayed or diverted following threats posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Police have detained a teenager in connection with these incidents. On Tuesday, threats targeting seven more flights—including the two Air India planes—were posted by another X user, whose account has since been suspended.
In response to these threats, Indian airlines and airport authorities have enacted stringent security measures. According to procedures set by the Bomb Threat Assessment Committees at Indian airports, all passengers, baggage, and cargo must be thoroughly screened, and aircraft are inspected by engineering and security teams before being cleared to fly again.
The resulting delays and operational disruptions can cost airlines and security agencies thousands of dollars.
On Wednesday, Air India released a statement confirming its cooperation with authorities to identify those responsible for the threats and consider legal action to recover damages.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security have not yet commented on the ongoing situation.
As investigations continue in Singapore and Canada, Indian authorities are working to determine the source of this sudden spike in hoax threats and prevent further disruptions.
