Over the past 48 days, at least 10 American airlines have received fake bomb threats, which has resulted in lengthy delays and divertissements.
On Tuesday, Singapore’s Air Force sent two fighter jets to escort an Air India Express plane away from populated areas following a bomb threat.
As a precautionary measure, an Air India aircraft from Delhi to Chicago had to get at a French airports days before that.
Hoax bomb threats to carriers are common in India, but it’s not known what caused the rapid rise in the last few days.
The BBC’s requests for comment were never responded to by government officials ‘ Directorates General of Civil Aviation and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.
Aside from Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Akasa Air planes also received challenges.
Three international flights that originated in Mumbai were diverted or delayed on Monday after a X ( formerly Twitter ) user posted threats. In connection with this, authorities have taken a girl into custody.
On Tuesday, seven planes, including the two Air India flights, were affected by the challenges issued by another X control which has now been suspended. Some of the posts ‘ screenshots reveal that the customer had mentioned the flight range and tagged the local authorities and the airline.
Air India said in a statement that it was co-operating with authorities to identify the people behind the threats and would consider legal action to recover damaged incurred.
Every American airport has a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee that determines the threat’s seriousness and decides what to do next. A risk can lead to the presence of the weapon disposal squad, scent dogs, ambulances, authorities and doctors.
Travellers are off-loaded from the aircraft along with room bag, check-in baggage and goods, and they are all screened again. Before the aircraft is approved for flying once more, engineers and security teams also research the aircraft.
Flights and security personnel could suffer thousands of dollars in damage as a result.
For airlines heading for other places, it can also lead to global firms getting involved, like in Singapore and Canada.
On Tuesday, Singapore’s defence secretary said that two of the town country’s fighter jet “scrambled and escorted” the Air India Express aircraft before it landed safely at Changi aircraft. The aircraft was taking off from Madurai, India, to Singapore.
” Once on the floor, the plane was handed to the Airport Police. Examinations are ongoing”, Ng Eng Hen wrote.
Eventually, Changi was a safe landing site for the airplane.
In Canada – where the Air India flight to Chicago had landed at Iqaluit airport as a precautionary measure – the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said it was investigating the threat.
On Wednesday, Air India revealed that a Canadian Air Force aircraft was taking the people to Chicago. When the Air India plane may be permitted to take off is not yet known.
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