More than 70 flights of several Indian airlines received fresh bomb threats on Thursday, according to news agency PTI sources.
Sources have revealed that around 20 flights each from Air India, Vistara, and IndiGo, as well as 14 flights from Akasa Air, have received bomb threats. Over the span of 11 days, nearly 250 flights operated by Indian carriers have been targeted with such threats.
“Some of our flights operating on October 24, 2024 have received security alerts today.The Akasa Air Emergency Response teams are monitoring the situation and are in touch with the security and regulatory authorities,” Akasa Air spokesperson said.
“We are following all safety and security procedures in coordination with local authorities and the Akasa Air teams on ground are prepared to assist passengers to ensure their safety and comfort,” the spokesperson added.
Earlier this week, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu announced the government’s plan to introduce legislative measures to address these bomb threats. This includes placing individuals responsible for such threats on a no-fly list.
Meanwhile, the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) protocols have been modified to effectively handle the ongoing wave of “random” online threats targeting various Indian airlines. The BTAC protocol has been adjusted, and a thorough assessment based on a new set of ‘red flags’ is now being conducted. The CISF and respective airline security have also been instructed to implement “focussed” security protocols for frisking passengers, their baggage, and the aircraft to ensure that nothing is overlooked while preparing a flight, they added.