Indian Plane Diverts Amid Latest Bomb Hoax Scare
An Akasa Air flight from New Delhi to Bengaluru was diverted on Wednesday, octotober 16th following a hoax bomb threat, marking yet another incident in a series of false alerts targeting airlines in India.
The aircraft, carrying 184 passengers including three infants, received a security alert that prompted it to return to the capital as a precautionary measure. The airline confirmed that the captain adhered to all emergency procedures for a safe landing in New Delhi.
In a related incident, an IndiGo flight traveling from Mumbai to New Delhi was diverted to Ahmedabad due to similar concerns.
Zulfiquar Hasan, director-general of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), reassured the public that “Indian skies are absolutely safe” and stated that police are actively working to track down those responsible for the threats and emphasized that strict legal action would be taken against the perpetrators once identified.
Since Monday, reports indicate that a total of 12 domestic and international flights have received bomb threats, including messages circulated on social media, all of which have been confirmed as false alarms. The situation prompted heightened security measures, including the deployment of fighter jets by Singapore to escort an Air India Express plane following an email warning about a possible bomb on board. Fortunately, the aircraft landed safely at Changi Airport without incident.
Additionally, an Air India flight from New Delhi to Chicago was forced to make an emergency landing in Canada due to a security threat reported online. The passengers were later airlifted to Chicago by Canada’s armed forces. Similar threats were reported this week concerning IndiGo flights bound for Jeddah and Muscat, underscoring a growing trend of hoaxes affecting aviation safety.
