NEW DELHI: The ongoing issue of hoax threat messages continues to disrupt flight schedules and inconvenience passengers. On Tuesday, at least seven flights faced threats, including an Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago, which was diverted to the small Canadian town of Iqaluit. This followed three similar incidents on Monday, including a diversion of Air India’s nonstop Mumbai-New York flight to Delhi.
Tuesday’s threats involved multiple flights: Air India’s AI 127 (Delhi-Chicago), IndiGo’s 6E 98 (Dammam-Lucknow), Air India Express’s Jaipur-Ayodhya, SpiceJet’s SG 116 (Darbhanga-Mumbai), and Akasa’s QP 1373 (Bagdogra-Bengaluru). The threats, traced back to a now-suspended social media account (@schizobomber777), were confirmed as hoaxes.
According to protocol, all passengers and baggage are thoroughly screened after receiving a threat. However, for long-haul flights, this can lead to crew changes due to maximum duty time limits, complicating logistics, especially in remote locations. Providing accommodations for over 300 passengers at small airports where many cannot leave for hotels due to visa issues poses significant challenges for airlines.
Airlines are calling on the government to address this ongoing issue that not only disrupts operations but also incurs substantial costs. Air India stated it may pursue legal action against those responsible for the threats to recover damages.
In June, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) proposed that individuals making hoax threats be placed on a no-fly list, but this measure has yet to be implemented. A senior aviation official noted that the BCAS has not identified the relevant law to support this action but is working to resolve the issue.
BCAS DG Zulfiquar Hasan issued a stern warning against those spreading hoax threats, assuring the public that all safety protocols were followed and that Indian skies remain secure. He expressed confidence in tracing the perpetrators and emphasized that there is “zero risk in flying.”
In statements regarding Tuesday’s incident, Air India noted that Flight AI 127 was diverted due to a security threat, and passengers are being re-screened according to established protocols. The airline is assisting passengers until their journeys can resume and regrets the inconvenience caused.
IndiGo also issued a statement regarding Flight 6E 98, which was redirected to Jaipur due to a security alert. All passengers were safely disembarked, and the airline emphasized that the safety and security of its customers and crew are its top priorities. SpiceJet and Akasa reiterated similar commitments to passenger safety in their responses.
