Bomb Threats to Airlines: India Reaches Out to US, Seeks FBI's Assistance to Trace Hoax Callers

New Delhi: As concerns continue to pertain amid bomb threats to airlines, India reached out to the United States on Thursday 
for assistance in investigating the matter that has disrupted air travel. Over the past two weeks, over 450 flights operated by Indian airlines have received hoax bomb messages, prompting concerns about the safety and security of air travel in the region.

According to the sources, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is cooperating with the Indian authorities to trace the origin of these threats, which were primarily communicated via social media.

India has expressed concerns regarding the motivations behind the threats. Meanwhile, Indian officials have indicated a potential connection to Khalistani terrorists, particularly citing links to the controversial figure, Amritpal Singh Pannu.

Between October 13 and October 28, several prominent airlines in India, including Air India , were inundated with bomb threat calls. Air India alone has received dozens of such messages, causing significant disruptions and raising alarms within the aviation sector.

Bomb Scare Continues: Air India, Vistara & IndiGo Among 100 Flights Receive Fresh Threats

On October 29, a series of bomb threats targeted over 100 flights, including those operated by major airlines such as Air India, Vistara, and IndiGo. While Air India received threats for around 36 flights, IndiGo and Vistara received threats for 35 and 32 flights respectively on Tuesday. In 16 days, over 510 domestic and international flights have got the threats that later turned out to be hoaxes. The threats were issued mostly through social media.

"A number of Air India flights were subject to security threats received on social media on 29 October 2024. Following the laid down protocols, relevant authorities were immediately alerted, and all security procedures strictly adhered to, as per guidance from the regulatory authorities," an airline (Air India) spokesperson said in a statement.

Amid a spate of hoax bomb threats to airlines, the IT Ministry has asked social media platforms to observe due diligence obligations and promptly remove or disable access to misinformation within the strict timelines prescribed under IT rules.