Mumbai, India—Mumbai police have arrested a minor in connection with bomb threats posted online targeting three flights earlier this week, according to India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu. The arrest comes amid a recent surge in hoax threats against domestic and international flights operated by Indian airlines.
The arrested individual, whose identity has not been disclosed due to their age, allegedly posted the threats on social media. “We strongly condemn the recent bomb threats to Indian air carriers. We are closely monitoring the situation and ensuring that every necessary measure is taken against such actions,” Kinjarapu said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
This arrest follows a series of false bomb threats made against various Indian airlines in recent weeks. Most recently, a flight arriving from Germany landed safely in Mumbai after a bomb threat was issued, marking the latest in a string of hoaxes that have targeted both domestic and international flights. These threats, which have all been determined to be false alarms, have caused widespread concern among passengers and authorities.
Local media reports indicated that the threats were made from a social media account on X. The account reportedly issued warnings about armed militants carrying explosives on board several flights, including two IndiGo flights to Muscat and Jeddah, and an Air India flight bound for New York.
The impact of these threats has been felt across multiple airlines. At least eight flights operated by IndiGo, one of India’s leading carriers, were targeted. Additionally, three SpiceJet flights, two Vistara flights, and four Air India flights were also subject to similar online threats, according to Reuters.
The situation escalated further on Wednesday when Air India reported that its flight from New Delhi to Chicago had to make an emergency landing in Canada following another bomb threat posted online. The passengers were later transferred to their final destination on a Canadian Air Force plane. “Air India notes that it, and other local airlines, have been subject to a number of threats in recent days,” the airline said in a statement.
Indian aviation authorities are taking the threats seriously, ramping up security measures and working with law enforcement agencies to investigate and prevent further incidents. Despite the false nature of the threats so far, the increased frequency of such hoaxes has caused significant disruption to flight schedules and passenger safety protocols.
The aviation ministry continues to monitor the situation closely and has vowed to take stringent action against those responsible for these false alarms, which have raised concerns about the safety and security of air travel in the country.
