How Class XI Drop Out Sent Bomb Threats to 4 Flights Creating Fake Twitter Account in Revenge Bid

New Delhi: Amid ongoing probe into a series of hoax bomb threat calls to Indian air carriers, Mumbai police have arrested a minor in connection with making fake calls on four flights. The accused, a class 11 dropout from Chhattisgarh allegedly created a fake social media account in his friend's name to send the threats, following a dispute over money. This act of revenge involved sending threats on October 14 through the impersonated account,  leading to some flights being diverted. 

The minor was nabbed in Rajnandgaon, and officials are probing whether there is a larger conspiracy behind these threats. The Mumbai police have also issued a notice to the 17-year-old boy's father and another person from Rajnandgaon to join probe in connection with bomb threats posted on social media targeting flights. Of the four, three of them were international originating from Mumbai.

While a New York-bound Air India flight was diverted to New Delhi and rescheduled, the other two to Muscat and Jeddah, both operated by IndiGo, were delayed by several hours as the planes were moved to isolation bays for security checks.  

In the past 48 hours, nearly 13 Indian flights, including those bound for international destinations, received bomb threats, but no suspicious items were found on board. Earlier in the day, a high-level meeting took place involving officials from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the Intelligence Bureau, and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Sources indicated that the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and other agencies are working on a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to improve coordination in handling bomb threat incidents. As part of their response, the BCAS has suggested that those making hoax bomb calls be added to a no-fly list to deter such actions in the future.

Full List of Flights That Received Bomb Threats

On Tuesday, seven flights received bomb threats, including a Delhi-Chicago Air India flight, an Air India Express flight from Jaipur to Bengaluru, an IndiGo flight from Dammam to Lucknow, a SpiceJet flight from Darbhanga to Mumbai, an Akasa Air flight from Siliguri to Bengaluru, an Alliance Air flight from Amritsar to Dehradun via Delhi, and an Air India Express flight from Madurai to Singapore.

The day before, on Monday, three other flights were similarly targeted with hoax bomb threats. These included an Air India flight from Mumbai to New York, an IndiGo flight bound for Muscat, and another IndiGo flight heading to Jeddah.  

MHA Swings Into Action

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has intervened in the recent spate of bomb hoax calls affecting several airlines. A high-level meeting was convened, attended by senior officials from the Delhi Police, to address the issue.

According to several media reports, there are plans to increase the number of sky marshals and to add hoax callers to the "no-fly list."  The Civil Aviation Ministry is reportedly collaborating with law enforcement agencies to track down the individuals responsible for these hoax calls.

Following assessments from intelligence agencies, discussions are underway to double the number of air marshals assigned to flights. Currently, a unit of National Security Guard (NSG) commandos serves as air marshals, primarily on international routes and select sensitive domestic routes. Sky marshals are armed security personnel in plain clothes who accompany passengers on flights to ensure their safety.  

‘Situation Being Closely Monitored’

Taking to Twitter, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said that they are closely monitoring the situation and ensuring that every necessary measure is taken against such actions. "Strongly condemn the recent bomb threats to Indian air carriers. . We are Committed in maintaining the highest security standards and passenger safety remains our topmost priority", Naidu tweeted.