New Delhi: At least 50 flights operated by Indian airlines on Sunday were reported to have received bomb threats. The incident is part of a larger trend, with over 350 flights encountering similar hoax threats in the last two weeks, primarily communicated through social media.
Among those affected, Akasa Air noted that 15 of its flights were flagged with security alerts. After comprehensive inspections, all aircraft were deemed safe for operations. IndiGo reported threats concerning 18 flights, while Vistara had alerts for 17 flights, as per PTI.
K Rammohan Naidu, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, said that the government is contemplating measures to prohibit people who make hoax bomb threats from flying. He said, “We are collaborating with international agencies, law enforcement and the Intelligence Bureau to combat these threats. We intend to amend two civil aviation laws to ensure severe penalties for those involved in such actions, including a ban on their ability to fly. We will provide further details soon.”
In light of the increasing frequency of these hoax threats, the IT Ministry has instructed social media platforms to be vigilant and swiftly remove any false information, as mandated by IT regulations. The government is taking these threats seriously and has initiated efforts to identify the individuals responsible for them.
They have requested social media companies, including Meta and X, to provide information related to such messages. A senior official said that it is necessary for cooperation to ensure public safety, according to a PTI report. According to reports, some people linked to these hoax threats have been identified, although specific details about their locations and identities have not been released.
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