'Won't Spare Anyone': Washington Bound AI Flight Receives Bomb Threat

New Delhi: Amid a series of hoax bomb threat calls to Indian air carriers, Air India Flight AI 103 from Delhi to Washington received a bomb threat on October 14, which however landed absolutely safely in Washington. 

“I placed explosives onboard flight AI103. This is extremely serious. The plane must be evacuated as quickly as possible. I won't spare anyone, you're all going down with me”,  the threat message sent to AI 103 read. This incident is part of a series of bomb threats targeting flights over the past three days.  

‘Won’t Spare Anyone': Threat Message Sent to AI 103 

13 Flights Receive Bomb Threats in 48 Hours; Security Agencies on High Alert

For the unversed, a surge of bomb threats has targeted flights over the past three days, keeping security agencies on high alert. Thirteen flights, including an Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago carrying 211 passengers, were hit with threats via social media, prompting immediate counter-terrorism measures at airports across the country.

Yesterday alone saw seven bomb threats, with messages posted on the platform X. Additionally, three threats were reported for international flights departing from Mumbai on Monday, all of which were later confirmed as hoaxes.

The affected flights from yesterday include:

• Air India Express IX765 (Jaipur to Bengaluru via Ayodhya)
• SpiceJet SG116 (Darbhanga to Mumbai)
• Akasa Air QP1373 (Bagdogra to Bengaluru)
• Air India AI127 (Delhi to Chicago)
• IndiGo 6E98 (Dammam, Saudi Arabia to Lucknow)
• Alliance Air 9I650 (Amritsar to Dehradun)
• Air India Express IX684 (Madurai to Singapore).

Meanwhile, cybersecurity agencies have suspended the X account responsible for these threats, as investigations continue into the motives behind this wave of hoaxes. Besides, security has also been ramped up at airports nationwide to ensure passenger safety amid the heightened threat environment.